Floriano vs. Delgado

G.R. No.
4410
August 27, 1908
URBANO FLORIANO, plaintiffs-appellee,

vs.
ESTEBAN DELGADO, ET AL., defendants-appellants.
A. E. Somersille for appellants.
R. Fernandez for appellee.
TORRES, J.:
On the 17th of February, 1907, the attorneys for Urbano Floriano filed a complaint against the married couple
Esteban Delgado and Regina Bertumen, residents of Ligao, Albay, alleging that the latter were indebted to the
plaintiff in the sum, of P1,352.80, duly admitted by the debtors, who engaged to pay it together with interest thereon
at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, as appears by a promissory note made out on the 20th of January, 1907, and
which reads:
We promise to pay to Sr. Urbano Floriano the sum of one thousand three hundred and fifty-two pesos and eighty
centavos (P1, 352.80), Conant, for balance standing against us on this date. Until said amount is paid to Sr. Floriano
we engaged to pay interest thereon at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, as agreed. Ligao, January 20, 1907.
(Signed) Esteban Delgado. (Signed) Regina Bertumen.
That the aforesaid amount has not been paid either in whole part, notwithstanding demand thereof, for which reason
the plaintiff asked the court to enter judgment against the defendants, sentencing them to pay the said sum in
Philippine currency, with interest thereon at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, from the 20th of January, 1907, until
the date of payment, with costs, as well as any further remedy that the court might consider just and equitable.
The defendants appeared within the time prescribed by the law, but they did not answer the complaint,
notwithstanding the fact that the time for answering had elapsed, nor did they present any answer, for which reason
the court below, on the 22d of March, 1907, held the said defendants, Delgado and Bertumen, to be in default and
ordered the plaintiff to proceed with his evidence; this aforesaid month and year, entered judgment ordering the
defendants to pay the amount claimed together with interest thereon from the 20th of January, 1907, until such time
as payment was made, with costs.
On April 9, following, the defendant Delgado, in his own name and on behalf of his wife, Bertumen, appealed from
said judgment. This appeal was admitted by the court below on the 13th of said month. A bill of exception was
submitted, and, after hearing the adverse party, it was brought to this court.
The subject in litigation is the fulfillment of an obligation contracted by the defendant spouses to pay a certain sum
stated in a document of indebtedness which is set out in the complaint, with the particularly that no date was fixed
therein for the payment of the debt.
Before proceed in further let us set forth the following facts; the defendant appellants did not ask for the annulment of
the judgment appealed from, nor for the holding of a new trial, but limited themselves simply to excepting to said
judgment, appealing to this court. hence, we are not called upon to review the findings of the court below, and this
decision will only dwell on the questions of law set up by the appellants in the bill of errors which accompanies their
brief.
Commencing with the second error in reference to the nature and character of the obligation continued in the
document of indebtedness, it is sufficient for the purposes of the decisions to say that, in accordance with the old
laws enforce in this country prior to the enactment of the present Civil Code, when an obligation is pure, simple, and
unconditional, and no particular day had been fixed for its fulfillment of the same may be demanded ten days after it
is contracted.
From the liquidation of accounts that took place between the plaintiff and the defendants, there resulted a balance of
P1,352.80 which the debtors bound themselves to pay, without fixing a day therefor, with interest at the rate of 10 per
cent per annum until paid, just as if they had received said sum on loan at the time of the liquidation whereby they
became indebted. Not having paid it at the time, they executed a document by which they bound themselves to pay
the creditor without fixing a date for payment, or any other condition. Although in accordance with the old laws and
the doctrine or precept of article 62 of the Code of Commerce, the parties bound should have met their obligation at
the expiration of ten days after the 20th of January, 1907, nevertheless, under the provisions of Civil Code, the
payment of the obligation may be demanded at once, unless from nature and circumstances of the creditor to grant
the debtors some extension of time, in which case the duration thereof should be fixed by the courts. (Art. 128, Civil
Code.)
It can not be inferred from the language of the said document that it was the intention of Urbano Floriano to grant the
defendants any extension of time in the payment, the duration of should be fixed by judicial authority; and inasmuch
as a complaint was filed in court twenty-seven days after the obligation was executed, after payment had been
demanded from the debtors, the latter have no right at all to claim an extension for the fulfillment of the obligation, the
existence and legality of which they have expressly recognized.
Article 113 of the Civil Code provides:
Every obligation, the fulfillment of which should not depend upon a future or uncertain event or upon a past
event, unknown to the parties in interest, shall be immediately demandable.
The document of indebtedness contains no term or condition whatever upon which depends the fulfillment of
obligation contracted by the debtors; therefore, there exists no motive or reason that would exempt them from
compliance therewith.
The judgment entered by the court below, sentencing the defendants to pay the plaintiff the sum that they owe him
together with interest thereon, must of course be understood as having been imposed upon them jointly in
accordance with the mutual character of the obligation contracted by the debtors, therefore the decision of the court
below is in accordance with the provisions of article 1137 and 1138 of the Civil Code, and it can not be contended
that each of them has been severally sentenced to pay the whole amount stated in the document of indebtedness,
and for said reason the fourth error attributed to the judgment appealed from is not true.
As to the first and second errors imputed by the appellants to the said judgment, it is unquestionable that the plaintiff
has made a material error in his writing of the 21st of March, 1907, by charging only the husband, one of the
defendants, with default; such error is explicable however in that the husband is the natural representative of his wife,
but it was no importance in view of the fact that the complaint was filed against both of them, and that they were both
summoned. The judge below having discovered the mistake held both defendants to be in default, thus amending, to
a certain extent, the erroneous charge of the plaintiff.
The order of default of March 22 was complied with, and upon the necessary evidence being offered by the plaintiff,
the judge below, without further formalities, since section 128 of the Code of Civil Procedure does not require any
other than those observed into these proceedings, rendered judgment on the 30th of the same month, after
proceedings is due form of law.
For the foregoing reasons, and as the judgment appealed from is an accordance with the law, it is our opinion that it
should be affirmed, with the costs against the appellants. So ordered.
Floriano vs Delgado, 11 Phil 154, August 27, 1908
Facts: On February 17, 1907, Floriano filed a complaint against Delgado and Bertumen, alleging that
the latter were indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of P1,352.80, who engaged to pay it together with
interest at the rate of ten percent per annum, as appears in their promissory note on January 20, 1907. The
said amount was not paid, not withstanding demand. Thus constitute this case.
Issue: Whether
or not the obligation contracted by both parties are pure obligation.
Held: Yes. In accordance with the old laws in force in the Islands prior to the enactment of the
present Civil Code, when an obligation is pure, simple and unconditional and no particular day has been
fixed for its fulfillment payment payment of the same may be demanded ten days after it is contracted.
Article 1179
Floriano vs Delgado 1 Phil 154
Facts:
On January 20, 1907, Esteban Delgado and Regina Bertumen issued a promissorynote to Urbano Floriano stating
that they promise to pay the sum of 1,352.80 pesos for the balance standing with an interest of 10% per
annum. Despite demands made by Floriano,
the amount has not been paid, for which reason the plaintiff asked the court to enter judgment against defendants
on 17th February 1907. The Court sentenced the defendants to pay the sum plus interest, with costs. The
defendants appeared but did not answer thecomplaint. On the 22nd of March 1907, the defendants held to be in
default and entered judgment ordering the defendants to pay the amount plus interests with costs. On 9th
of April, defendant Delgado, alone and on behalf of his wife, appealed said judgment askingthe court simply to
exempt themselves from said judgment, hence this certiorari.
Issue:
Whether or not the judgment appealed from is in accordance with the law.
Held:
Yes.1. As to the nature and character of the obligation: When an obligation is pure, simple andunconditional and
no particular day had been fixed for its fulfillment of the same may bedemanded ten days after it is
contracted. The plaintiff filed his complaint 27 days after theobligation was executed. The payment had been
demandable, and the debtors have no rightto ask for further extension. The document of indebtedness is pure,
simple andunconditional; there exists no reason that would exempt the debtors from compliance.
2. According to the mutual character of the obligation: Sentencing the debtors to pay their obligation jointly is in
accordance with Article 1137 and 1138 of the Civil Code.
3. Theres no error charging only the husband in default. The plaintiff only made an error in his
writing. Complaint was filed against both of them, and they were both summoned.The husband is the natural
representative of his wife; therefore they are both in default.Judgment affirmed.

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G.R. No.

August 27, 1908

URBANO FLORIANO, plaintiffs-appellee,

Floriano vs Delgado, 11 Phil 154, August 27, 1908

or not the obligation contracted by both parties are pure obligation.

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