Special Civil Action of Interpleader

Whenever conflicting claims upon the same subject matter are or may be made against a person who claims no interest whatever in the subject matter, or an interest which in whole or in part is not disputed by the claimants, he may bring an action against the conflicting claimants to compel them to interplead and litigate their several claims among themselves. (Section 1, Rule 62 of the Revised Rules of Civil Procedure)

Alburo Law
March 18, 2026

Special Civil Action of Interpleader

In the case of Bureau of Internal Revenue v. Tico Insurance Company, Inc. (G.R. No. 204226, April 18, 2022), the Supreme Court held that the special civil action of interpleader is designed to protect a person against double vexation in respect of a single liability.

It requires, as an indispensable requisite, that conflicting claims upon the same subject matter are or may be made against the stakeholder (the possessor of the subject matter) who claims no interest whatsoever in the subject matter or an interest which in whole or in part is not disputed by the claimants. Through this remedy, the stakeholder can join all competing claimants in a single proceeding to determine conflicting claims without exposing the stakeholder to the possibility of having to pay more than once on a single liability. In short, the remedy of interpleader, when proper, merely provides an avenue for the conflicting claims on the subject matter to be threshed out in an action.

Upon the filing of the complaint, the court shall issue an order requiring the conflicting claimants to interplead with one another. If the interests of justice so require, the court may direct in such order that the subject matter be paid or delivered to the court. (Section 2, Rule 62 of the Revised Rules of Civil Procedure)

Within the time for filing an answer, each claimant may file a motion to dismiss on the ground of impropriety of the interpleader action or on other appropriate grounds specified under Rule 16. The period to file an answer shall be tolled and if the motion is denied, the movant may file his answer within the remaining period, but which shall not be less than five (5) days in any event, reckoned from the notice of denial. (Section 4, Rule 62 of the Revised Rules of Civil Procedure)

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