G.R. No. 46686; September 22, 1939
TRANQUILINO RUBIS, plaintiff-appellant, vs. THE PHILIPPINE CHARITY SWEEPSTAKES, defendant-appellee.

FACTS

Plaintiff Tranquilino Rubis filed an action to recover a prize of P1,000 for one unit of winning sweepstakes ticket No. 281945. He alleged he bought the ticket from the defendant but lost it while working as an inspector on a bus. The ticket contained the printed condition: “Prizes of tickets sold locally will be paid to holder of ticket upon surrender of same.” The trial court, upon defendant’s objection, ruled that secondary evidence to prove ownership and loss of the ticket was inadmissible and dismissed the complaint.

ISSUE

Whether secondary evidence may be admitted to establish ownership and loss of the sweepstakes ticket, given the printed condition requiring its surrender for payment.

RULING

No. The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal. The printed condition on the ticket requiring its surrender for payment is a valid and binding stipulation between the contracting parties. The presentation or surrender of the ticket is a condition precedent to payment. As the contract is aleatory, the parties may establish such terms provided they are not contrary to law, morals, or public order. Obligations from contracts have the force of law between the parties and must be performed according to their stipulations. Therefore, secondary evidence of ownership and loss is inadmissible to substitute for the required surrender of the ticket.

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