CONFLICT OF LAWS

De La Salle - Lipa
College of Law
Atty. Trixy L. Comia

Reference:
Conflict of Laws: Case Materials and Comments (Coquia and Pangalangan)

Others:
Philippine Conflict of Laws (Paras)
HandBook on Conflict of Laws (Sempio-Diy)
Private International Law (Salonga)

I. Preliminary Consideration

a. Definition of Conflict of Laws

b. Elements of Conflict of Laws
c. Nature and Functions of Private International Law
d. Sources of Private International Law
1. Direct Sources
2. Indirect Sources
e. Public International Law v. Private International Law

Read:
Constitution, Art. IV and V, Sec. 1
Civil Code: Article 14, 15, 16, 17, 815-819, 829, 1039, 1319 and 1753
Family Code of the Philippines Art. 10, 21, 26, 35, 36,37, 28, 80, 96, 184
and 187
Revised Penal Code, Art. 2
Corporation Code, Sec. 123, 129 and 133
Rules of Court, Rule 4 Sec2; Rule 8, Sec 6; Rule 11, Sec 2, Rule 14, Sec.
12-16, Rule 23, Sec 11-12, Rule 39, Sec. 48; Rule 73, Sec 1; Rule 77, Sec.
1; Rule 92, Sec 1; Rule 131, Sec 3 (n); Rule 132, Sec 19(a), 24 and 25.

II. History of Private International Law

III. Jurisdiction

a. Definition of Jurisdiction
b. Types of Judicial Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Over the Person
Jurisdiction Over the Subject Matter
Jurisdiction Over the Property

Cases:
Salvador H. Laurel v. Ramon Garcia G.R. No. 122191, July 25, 1990
Saudi Arabian Airlines v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 122191

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 International School Alliance of Educators v. Hon. Quisumbing G.R. No.
128845 June 1, 2000.
Cayetano Lim v. Insular Collector of Customs G.R. No. L-11759, March
16, 1917
Sweet Lines Inc. v. Teves, G.R. No. L-37750 19 May 1978
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. v. Sherman G.R. No. 72494
PHILSEC INVESTMENT et al vs.CA et al G.R. No. 103493June 19, 1997
Jorge Gonzales v. Hon. Oscar Pimentel G.R. No. 167994, January 22, 2007
U.S. v. Look Chow, 18 Phil 573
El Banco-Espanol-Filipino v. Palanca 26 March 1918
Lazaro Rayray v. Chae Kyung Lee 26 October 1966
Far East International Import and Export Corporation v. Nankai Kogyo
Co., LTD., November 30, 1962
Gemperle v. Schenker January 23, 1967
Dolores de los Santos v. Hon. Montesa April 6, 1993
Republic of the Philippines v. Pimentel June 12, 2008
Caluag v. Potenciano Pecson, October 29, 1948

c. Ways of Disposing Conflicts of Law Cases

Cases:
First Philippine International Bank v. Court of Appeals January 24, 1996
Bank of America v. CA G.R. No. 120135
Manila Hotel Corporation v. NLRC G.R. No. 120077
Communications Material and Design Inc. v. Court of Appeals August 22,
1996
K.K. Shell Sekiyu Osaka Hatsubaisho v. Court of Appeals July 30, 1990
Kazuhiro Hasegawa v. Nippon Engineering Consultants November 23,
2007
Pakistan International Airlines v. Ople September 28, 1990
Cadalin v. POEA (1994)
Zalamea v. Court of Appeals November 13, 1993
Bellis v. Bellis June 6, 1967

IV. CHOICE OF LAW AND CHARACTERIZATION

APPROACHES TO CHOICE OF LAW

a. TRADITIONAL APPROACH
Vested-Rights Theory
Local Law Theory
Cavers' Principles of Preference

b. MODERN APPROACH
Place of the Most Significant Relationship
Center of Gravity/Grouping of Contracts
Interest Analysis
Comparative Impairment

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 Functional Analysis
Choice-Influencing Considerations

Cases:
Auten v. Auten 208 N.Y. 155
Saudi Arabian Airlines v. Court of Appeals October 8, 1988
George Babcok v. William Jackson 12 N.Y. 2d 473 (1963)
Crescent Petroleum, Ltd. v. M/V "Lok Maheshwari" November 11, 2005
Sps. Cesar and Suthira Zalamea v. Court of Appeals November 18, 1993
Philippine Commercial and Industrial Bank v. Hon. Venicio Escolin MArch
29, 1974
Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. Rafael Ma. Guererro February 19, 2003

V. THE PROBLEM OF CHARACTERIZATION

a. Characterization and the Single MEthod
b. Depacage

Cases:
Gibbs v. Government 59 Phil 293

VI. THE PROBLEM OF RENVOI

a. Definition
b. Various Ways of Dealing with the Problem of Renvoi
c. Usefulness of Renvoi
d. Double Renvoi

Cases:
Aznar v. Garcia January 31, 1963
Bellis v. Bellis June 6, 1967
Paula Llorente v. CA November 23, 2000

VII. APPLICATION OF FOREIGN LAW

a. Extent of Judicial Notice
b. Proof of Foreign Law
c. Exceptions to the Application of Foreign Law
d. Doctrine of Processual Presumption

Cases:
Recio v. Recio October 2, 2001
Pakistan International Airlines v. Ople September 28, 1990
Asiavest Merchant Bankers Berhad v. CA 361 SCRA 489

VIII: PERSONAL LAW

a. Nationality

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 1. Importance of a Personal Law
2. Determination of Nationality
3. Procedure of Naturalization
4. Loss of Philippine Citizenship
5. Problems in Applying the Nationality Principle

b. Domicile
1. Definition
2. Merits and Demerits of Domicile
3. General Rules on Domicile
4. Kinds of Domicile

c. Principles on Personal Status and Capacity

1. Definition
2. Legislative Jurisdiction v. Judicial Jurisdiction
3. Beginning and End of Personality
4. Absence
5. Name
6. Age of Majority
7. Capacity

Cases: Co v. Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives (1991)

Bengzon v. HRET (2001)
Poe-Llamanzares v. COMELEC (2016)
David v. agbay (2015)
Jalosjos v. COMELEC (2012)
Caballero v. COMELEC (2015)

IX. CHOICE OF LAW PROBLEMS (In Family Relations)

A. MARRIAGE
a. Philippine Policy on Marriage and the Family
b. Extrinsic Validity of Marriage
c. Intrinsic Validity of Marriage
d. Effects of Marriage

B. Divorce and Separation

C. Annulment and Declaration of Nullity
D. Parental Relations
a. Determination of Legitimacy of a Child
b. Common Law Principles on Legitimacy
c. Parental Authority Over the Child
E. Adoption

Cases: Tenchavez v. Escano (1965)

Van Dorn v. Romillo (1985)

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 San Luis v. San Luis (2007)
Roehr v. Rodriguez (2003)
Republic v. Orbecido (2005)
Fujiki v. Marinay (2013)
Republic v. Miller (1999)

X. CHOICE OF LAW in Property

A. The Controlling Law

B. Capacity to Transfer or Acquire Property
C. Extrinsic and Intrinsic Validity of Conveyances
D. Exceptions to Lex Situs Rule
E. Situs of Certain Properties
F. Patents, Trademarks, Trade Name and Copyright

Cases: Laurel v. Garcia (1990)

Tayag v. Benguet (1968)
Matthews v. Taylor (2009)
Cheeseman v. IAC (1991)

XI. CHOICE OF LAW in CONTRACTS

A. Contracts Involving a Foreign Element

B. Extrinsic Validity of Contracts
C. Intrinsic Validity of Contracts
D. Capacity to Enter into Contracts
E. Choice of Law issues in Conflicts Cotracts Cases
F. Limitations to Choice of Law

Cases: Bagong Filipinas Overseas Corporation v. NLRC (1985)

Pakistan International Airlines v. Ople (1990)
Puromines Inc. v. CA (1993)
Pan Am Worls Airways v. Rapadas (1992)

XII. CHOICE OF LAW IN WILLS, SUCCESSION, AND ADMINISTRATION OF

ESTATES

A. Extrinsic Validity of Wills

B. Intrinsic Validity of Wills
C. Interpretation of Wills
D. Revocation of Wills
E. Probate
F. Administration of Estates
G. Trusts

Cases: Dalton v. Giberson (1952)

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 Miciano v. Brimo (1927)
Bohanan v. Bohanan (1960)

XIII. CHOICE OF LAW IN TORTS AND CRIMES

A. Policies Behind Conflicts Tort Law

B. Lex Loci Delicti Commissi
C. Modern Theories on Foreign Tort Liability
D. Foreign Tort Claims
a. Conditions for the Enforcement of Tort Claims
b. Products Liability of Foreign Manufacturer
c. The Alient Tort Act
d. Philippine Rule on Foreign Torts
E. Distinguish Between Torts and Crimes
F. Lex Loci Delicti

Cases: Saudi Arabian Airlines v. CA (1998)

Time Inc. v. Reyes (1971)
Liang v. People (2000)
US v. Look Chow (1910)

XIV. CHOICE OF LAW AFFECTING CORPORATIONS AND OTHER JURIDICAL

ENTITIES

A. Corporations
a. Personal Law of a Corporation
b. Exceptions to the Rule of Incorporation Test
c. Domicile or Residence of Foreign Corporations
d. Jurisdiction Over Foreign Corporations
e. Right of Foreign Corporation to Bring Suit
f. Exceptions to the License Requirement
g. Definition and Scope of “Transacting Business”

B. Special Corporations
C. Partnerships

Cases: Cargill Inc. v. Intra Strata Assurance (2010)

Steelcase v. Design International Selections, Inc. (2012)
SIHI v. CITIBANK (1991)
Hyatt Elevators v. Goldstar Elevators (2005)
Gamboa v. Teves (2011)

XV. FOREIGN JUDGMENTS

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 A. Distinction Between Recognition and Enforcement
B. Bases of Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments
C. Policies Underlying Recognition and Enforcement
D. Requisites for Recognition or Enforcement
E. Grounds for Non-Recognition of Foreign Judgment
F. Modern Developments in Enforcement
G. Procedure for Enforcement

Cases :
Fujiki v. Marinay (2013)
Roehr v. Rodriguez (2003)