Text of the provision
Art. 23. Even when an act or event causing damage to another's property was not due to the fault or negligence of the defendant, the latter shall be liable for indemnity if through the act or event he was benefited.
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 narrow but striking rule: even without fault or negligence, a person who was benefited by an act or event that damaged another's property must indemnify — but only to the extent of the benefit received. The classic illustration: to save your own goods you divert a flood onto your neighbor's land; though blameless, you must compensate the neighbor because you gained. It is another application of the unjust-enrichment idea in Article 22.
Related provisions
- Article 22 — unjust enrichment generally.
- Article 24 — protection of the disadvantaged.
Cases interpreting this article
- Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.