CONFLICT OF LAWS

Summer 2017

ATTY. LYSSA G.S. PAGANO CALDE

Course Description

Conflict of Laws is a two (2) unit course and included in the bar examinations under
Civil Law. It covers the group of principles that govern the approach taken by courts
when the issue involves a foreign element.

Main References

1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines

New Civil Code
Family Code
Revised Penal Code
Corporation Code
Revised Rules of Court

Course Outline

Part 1: Course Overview and Introduction to Conflict of Laws

Part 2: Definition
Part 3: Jurisdiction
Part 4: Characterization
Part 5: Choice of Law
Part 6: Personal Law
Part 7: Foreign Law
Part 8: Foreign Judgments

Part 1: Course Overview and Introduction to Conflict of Laws

Part 2: Definition

A. Definition

Read: G.C. Chesire, Private International Law, 1947 edition.

R.C. Minor, Conflict of Laws, 1901

Hilton v. Guyot, 159 U.S. 113 (1895)

B. Distinction between Conflict of Laws and Public International Law

C. Scope

D. Sources

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Part 3: Jurisdiction

A. Jurisdiction Over the Person

B. Jurisdiction Over the Property

C. Jurisdiction Over the Subject Matter

Read: Article VIII, Sections 4 and 5

B.P. 129 and R.A. 296
Service of Summons, Revised Rules of Court

Jose v. Boyon 414 SCRA 216

Dial Corporation v. Soriano 161 SCRA 737
Villareal v. CA 295 SCRA 511
Banco Espanol v. Palanca 37 Phil. 921
Caluag v. Pecson 82 Phil. 8
International Shoe v. Washington 326 U.S. 310
Pennoyer v. Neff 95 U.S. 714
Philsec Investment v. CA G.R. No.103493 June 19, 1997
Davao Light v. CA 204 SCRA 343
Hongkong v. Sherman 176 SCRA 331
Brasil v. CA 333 SCRA 545
NM Rothschild v. Lepanto 661 SCRA 428
Northwest Orient v. CA 241 SCRA 192

D. Doctrine of forum non conveniens

Read: Manila Hotel v. NLRC G.R. No. 120077 October 13, 2000
K.K. Shell v. CA G.R. No. 90306-07 July 30, 1990
First Philippine International Bank v. CA 252 SCRA 259
Heine v. New York Insurance 45 F2d 426
In re: Union Carbide 634 F. Supp. 842
Wing On Company v. Syyap 64 O.G. 8311
Raytheon v. Rouzie 546 SCRA 555
Hasegawa v. Kitamura 538 SCRA 261
Puyat v. Zabarte 352 SCRA 738
Pioneer v. Todaro 524 SCRA 153

Part 4: Characterization

A. Single Aspect Method

1. Subject Matter Characterization

Read: Gibbs v. Government 59 Phil. 293

2. Substance v. Procedure Characterization

a. Statute of Frauds
b. Statute of Limitations
c. Borrowing Statutes

B. Multi-Aspect Method: Dpeage

Part 5: Choice of Law

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 A. Approaches

1. Traditional Approach
2. Modern Approaches

a. Place of the Most Significant Relationship/Center of Gravity

b. Interest Analysis
c. Comparative Impairment
d. Functional Analysis
e. Choice Influencing Considerations

B. Limits
Read: Manila Resources v. NLRC 213 SCRA 296
Cognovit clause

C. Renvoi

Read: Aznar v. Garcia 117 Phil. 106

Pfau v. Trent 55 NJ 511
Bellis v. Bellis 20 SCRA 359

D. Application of Domestic or Internal Law: Read Articles 15,16 and 17

Civil Code

E. Application of Foreign Law

1. Theory of Comity
2. Vested-Rights Theory
3. Theory of Local Law
4. Theory of Harmony of Laws
5. Theory of Justice

F. Exceptions to Application of Foreign Law

Read: Pakistan v. Ople 190 SCRA 90

G. Choice of Law in Family Relations

Read: Family Code

1. Extrinsic Validity
2. Intrinsic Validity
3. Personal Relations
Read: Djumantan v. Domingo 240 SCRA 746
Goitia v. Campos Rueda 35 Phil. 252
Arroyo v. Vasquez de Arroyo 42 Phil. 54
4. Divorce
Read: Article 26 of the Family Code
Tenchavez v. Escano 15 SCRA 355
Van Dorn v. Romillo 139 SCRA 139
Pilapil v. Ibay-Somera 174 SCRA 653
Quita v. CA 300 SCRA 406
Republic v. Iyoy G.R. No. 15277 September 21, 2005
Llorente v. CA G.R. No. 124371 November 23, 2000
Republic v. Obrecido G.R. No. 154380 October 5, 2005
Garcia v. Recio 366 SCRA 437
Corpuz v. Sto. Tomas G.R. 186571 August 11, 2010

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 5. Parental Relations
6. Adoption

Read: Domestic Adoption Act

Inter-Country Adoption

Republic v. CA 227 SCRA 401

Therkelsen v. Republic 12 SCRA 400
Lazatin v. Campos 92 SCRA 250
Republic v. CA and Bobiles G.R. No. 92326 Jan. 24 1992
Republic v. Miller G.R. No. 125937 April 21, 1999

H. Choice of Law in Property

1. Nature of the property

2. Capacity to transfer and acquire property
Read: Cheesman v. IAC 193 SCRA 93
Matthews v. Taylor 590 SCRA 394
3. Lex Situs Rule

I. Choice of Law in Contracts

1. Extrinsic Validity
2. Intrinsic Validity

a. lex loci contractus

Read: Korea Technologies v. Lerma 542 SCRA 1
b. lex loci solutionis
c. lex loci intentionis

3. Capacity to enter into contracts

Read: Insular Government v. Frank 13 Phil. 236

4. Choice of Forum Clause

Read: Companie de Commerce v. Hamburg 36 Phil. 590
King Mau v. Sycip 94 Phil. 784
Hong Kong v. Sherman 176 SCRA 331

5. Arbitration Clause
Read: Puromines v. CA 220 SCRA 281

6. Contracts of Adhesion
Read: Pan Am v. Rapadas 209 SCRA 67
PAL v. CA 255 SCRA 48

7. Contracts of Carriage
Read: American President Lines v. Klepper 110 Phil. 243
Lopez v. Pan Am 16 SCRA 431
KLM v. CA 65 SCRA 237
Sabena v. CA 255 SCRA 38
Santos v. Northwest 210 SCRA 256
United Airlines v. CA 357 SCRA 99
American Airlines v. CA 327 SCRA 482

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 J. Choice of Law in Succession

1. Extrinsic Validity
Read: In re Estate of Johnson 39 Phil 156
Babcock v. Babcock 52 Phil. 130
Dacanay v. Florendo 87 Phil. 144

2. Intrinsic Validity
Read: Cayetano v. Leonidas 129 SCRA 522\

3. Interpretation of wills

4. Revocation

5. Probate
Read: Suntay v. Suntay 95 Phil. 500
Perez v. Tolete 232 SCRA 722

6. Administration of Estates
Read: Tayag v. Benguet Consolidated 26 SCRA 242

K. Choice of Law in Torts

1. Lex loci delicti commissi

Read: Loucks v. Standards Oil 224 N.Y. 99; N.E. 198

2. Most Significant Relationship Theory

Read: Saudi Arabian Airlines v. CA 297 SCRA 469

3. Interest Analysis

4. Cavers Principle of Preference

5. Foreign Tort Claims

Read: Hilao v. Estate of Ferdinand Marcos No. 95-15779
O.C. No. MDL-00840, 1996
Trajano v. Marcos 125 L.Ed. 2d 661, 113 S.Ct. 2959
Guinto v. Marcos 654 Supp.276 (S.D.Cal. 1986)
Time v. Reyes 39 SCRA 303

L. Choice of Law in Crimes

1. Lex loci delicti

2. Exceptions to Territorial Rule

a. State immunity
Read: US v. Guinto 182 SCRA 644
Garcia v. Chief of Staff 16 SCRA 120
M.H. Wylie v. Rarang 209 SCRA 357

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 Liang v. People G.R. No. 125865 (2000)
Deutsche v. CA 585 SCRA 150
b. Foreign vessel Article 27 UNCLOS
Read: US v. Fowler 1 Phil. 614
People v. Wong Cheng 46 Phil. 729
US v. Look Chaw 18 Phil. 573
c. National interest Article 2 Revised Penal Code

M. Choice of Law for Corporations

1. Incorporation Test
Read: M.E. Gray v. Insular 67 Phil. 139
Marshall Wells v. Elser 46 Phil. 71

2. Exceptions to Incorporation Test

Read: Palting v. San Jose 18 SCRA 924\

3. Domicile of Foreign Corporations

Read: Article 51 New Civil Code
Corporation Code

State Investment v. Citibank 203 SCRA 9

Home Insurance v. Easter Shipping 123 SCRA 424
Atlantic Mutual Insurance v. Cebu 17 SCRA 1037
Eastboard v. Juan Ysmael 102 Phil. 1
Leviton Industries v. Salvador 114 SCRA 420
Universal Shipping v. IAC 188 SCRA 170
Philippine Columbia v. Lantin 39 SCRA 376
CIR v. Japan Airlines 202 SCRA 450
Merrill Lynch v. CA 211 SCRA 824
Granger Associates v. Microwave 189 SCRA 631
Hutchison v. SBMA 339 SCRA 434
MR Holdings v. Bajar 380 SCRA 617
Hahn v. CA 266 SCRA 554
European Resources v. Ingenieuburo 435 SCRA 246
Agilent Technologies v. Integrated Silicon 427 SCRA 593
Communication Materials v. CA 260 SCRA 673
SBMA v. UIG of Taiwan 340 SCRA 359

Part 6: Personal Law

A. Citizenship

1. Natural-Born Citizens
Read: 1935, 1973 and 1987 Constitutions

Talaroc v. Uy 92 Phil. 52
Aznar v. Comelec 185 SCRA 703
Co v. Electoral Tribunal 199 SCRA 692
Mary Grace Natividad S. Poe-Llamanzares G.R. No.
221697 and G.R. Nos. 221698-700 (Read Majority
Decision, Concurring and Dissenting Opinions)

2. Naturalized Citizens

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 Read: Naturalization Law

Dy Lam Go v. Republic 5 SCRA 915

Watt v. Republic 46 SCRA 683
Yu Kian Chie v. Republic 13 SCRA 282
Vivo v. Cloribel 25 SCRA 616
Moy Ya Lim Yao v. Commissioner 41 SCRA 292

3. Loss of Philippine Citizenship

Read: Frivaldo v. Comelec 174 SCRA 245
Frivaldo v. Comelec 257 SCRA 727
Labo v. Comelec 176 SCRA 1

4. Repatriation
Read: Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act

5. Dual or Multiple Citizenship

Read: Liechtenstein v. Guatemala 155 I.C.J. Rep. 4 (1955)
Mercado v. Manzano 307 SCRA 630

6. Statelessness
Read: Kookooritchkin v. OSG 81 Phil. 435

B. Domicile
Read: Domino v. Comelec 310 SCRA 546
Koh v. CA 70 SCRA 298
Uytengsu v. Republic 95 Phil.890
Caasi v. CA 191 SCRA 229
Eusebio v. Eusebio G.R. No. L-8409, Dec. 28, 1956
Marcos v. Comelec 248 SCRA 300
Ujano v. Republic 17 SCRA 147
Velilla v. Posadas 62 Phil. 624
Caraballo v. Republic 4 SCRA 1055
Go Chen v. Collector 56 Phil. 550
Ugdoracion v. Comelec 552 SCRA 231

C. Personality
Read: Articles 40-41 of the New Civil Code

De Jesus v. Syquia 58 Phil. 866

Geluz v. CA 2 SCRA 88

D. Age of Majority
Read: Republic Act No. 6809

E. Absence
Read: Articles 390-391 of the New Civil Code
Article 41 of the Family Code

F. Name
Read: Articles 364-375 of the New Civil Code
Article 165 of the Family Code
Republic Act No. 9255

Part 7: Foreign Law

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 A. Proof of Foreign Law

Read: PCIB v. Escolin 56 SCRA 266

Zalamea v. CA 228 SCRA 27
Miciano v. Brimo 50 Phil. 867
CIR v. Fisher 1 SCRA 93
CID v. Dela Rosa 197 SCRA 858
Wildvalley v. CA 342 SCRA 213
Bank of America v. American Realty 321 SCRA 659

B. Processual Presumption of Law

Read: Northwest Airlines v. CA 241 SCRA 192

Part 8: Foreign Judgment

A. Requisites for Recognition or Enforcement of Foreign Judgment

Read: Revised Rules of Court on Foreign Judgments

PCIB v. Escolin 56 SCRA 265

Reyes v. Wells 54 Phil. 102
Ang Giok Chip v. Springfield 56 Phil. 375
Corpuz v. Sto. Tomas G.R. No. 186571 August 11, 2010
Northwest v. CA 241 SCRA 192
Boudard v.Tait 67 Phil. 170
Ramirez v. Gmur 42 Phil. 855
Borthwick v. Castro 152 SCRA 229
Mijares v. Ranada 455 SCRA 397
Oil and Natural Gas v. CA 293 SCRA 26
Philsec v. CA 274 SCRA 102

B. Procedure for Enforcement

C. Grounds for Non-Recognition

Student Evaluation:

Passing Grade is 75%.

No make-up quizzes and exams will be given.

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