Text of the provision
Art. 429. The owner or lawful possessor of a thing has the right to exclude any person from the enjoyment and disposal thereof. For this purpose, he may use such force as may be reasonably necessary to repel or prevent an actual or threatened unlawful physical invasion or usurpation of his property.
(n)
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
The owner or lawful possessor may exclude others and may use reasonably necessary force to repel or prevent an actual or threatened unlawful invasion of the property. This is the doctrine of self-help; it applies only against an actual or imminent intrusion, not to recover property already lost (which needs court action).
Questions about this provision
- Can I use force to remove someone from my property in the Philippines?
- Can a landlord evict a tenant for unpaid rent without a court case?
Related provisions
- Article 428 — The Rights of an Owner.
- Article 430 — Right to Enclose.
Cases citing this article
- North Greenhills Association, Inc. vs. Atty. Narciso Morales, G.R. No. 222821, August 9, 2017 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Philippine Bank of Communications, et al. vs. Elenita B. Trazo, G.R. No. 165500, August 30, 2006 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- United Coconut Planters Bank, et al. vs. Ruben E. Basco, G.R. No. 142668, August 31, 2004 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Reynaldo Villafuerte, et al. vs. Hon. Court of Appeals, et al, G.R. No. 134239, May 26, 2005 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System vs. Act Theater Inc, G.R. No. 147076, June 17, 2004 — 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.