Text of the provision
Art. 22. Every person who through an act of performance by another, or any other means, acquires or comes into possession of something at the expense of the latter without just or legal ground, shall return the same to him.
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
This codifies the principle against unjust enrichment — nemo cum alterius detrimento locupletari potest. Anyone who acquires or holds something at another's expense without a just or legal ground must return it. Its two requisites: (1) enrichment of one party at the expense of another, and (2) the absence of any legal basis for it. It is the foundation of the remedy called accion in rem verso and of the rules on solutio indebiti.
Related provisions
- Article 23 — liability for benefit even without fault.
- Article 19 — the good-faith standard of human relations.
Cases interpreting this article
- Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.