Text of the provision
Art. 1981. When the thing deposited is delivered closed and sealed, the depositary must return it in the same condition, and he shall be liable for damages should the seal or lock be broken through his fault. Fault on the part of the depositary is presumed, unless there is proof to the contrary. As regards the value of the thing deposited, the statement of the depositor shall be accepted, when the forcible opening is imputable to the depositary, should there be no proof to the contrary. However, the courts may pass upon the credibility of the depositor with respect to the value claimed by him. When the seal or lock is broken, with or without the depositary's fault, he shall keep the secret of the deposit.
(1769a)
Civil Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 386, approved June 18, 1949, effective August 30, 1950. Reproduced in full; verified verbatim against the LawPhil and ChanRobles official-text renderings.
What this article means
A thing deposited closed and sealed must be returned in the same condition; the depositary is liable if the seal is broken through his fault (fault presumed), and the depositor's statement of value is accepted where forcible opening is imputable to the depositary. The depositary must keep the secret of the deposit.
Related provisions
- Article 1980 — Bank Deposits Are Loans.
- Article 1982 — Presumed Authority to Open.
Cases citing this article
- Marina Port Services vs. American Home Assurance Corporation, G.R. No. 201822, August 12, 2015 — read the decision on LawPhil →
Compiled automatically from Supreme Court decisions published on LawPhil that expressly cite this article, most frequently cited first. A listing means the decision cites the provision — it is not a statement that the case is the leading authority, and it does not show whether a ruling has since been modified or abandoned. Always read the decision itself.