When the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court affirms the trial court’s decision awarding a sum of money and the judgment becomes final and executory (entry of judgment has been issued), the prevailing party (judgment obligee/creditor) acquires an absolute right to enforce the monetary award. The losing party (judgment obligor/debtor) can no longer prevent execution except on very limited grounds. Below is a comprehensive guide on every available step and remedy under Philippine law as of December 2025, based on the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure as amended by A.M. No. 19-10-20-SC (2019 Amendments) and subsequent jurisprudence.

1. Confirm That the Judgment Is Final and Executory

The Court of Appeals or Supreme Court issues a Resolution stating “This Decision is now FINAL and EXECUTORY” or words to that effect.
The Entry of Judgment is issued by the higher court and transmitted to the court of origin (usually the Regional Trial Court or Metropolitan/Municipal Trial Court).
Once the court of origin receives the Entry of Judgment, execution becomes a ministerial duty of the court.

2. File a Motion for Issuance of Writ of Execution in the Court of Origin

File the motion in the trial court that originally decided the case (Rule 39, Sec. 1).
Execution is a matter of right. The court has no discretion to deny it unless there is a supervening event (e.g., compromise agreement, death of a party with substitution issues, or fortuitous event that makes performance impossible).
No hearing is required; the court must grant the motion immediately.
File within 5 years from entry of judgment. After 5 years but within 10 years, the judgment may still be revived by an independent action (action for revival of judgment).

3. Issuance of the Writ of Execution

Once the motion is granted, the clerk of court issues the Writ of Execution addressed to the sheriff.
The writ commands the sheriff to collect the amount of the judgment plus legal interest (6% per annum from finality until full satisfaction – Bangko Sentral circular rate now applies only to loans; for forbearance of money in final judgments, it is still 6% as per Eastern Shipping Lines doctrine as modified by Nacar v. Gallery Frames).
The writ also includes accrued costs and sheriff’s lawful fees.

4. Service of the Writ and Demand for Payment

The sheriff serves the writ on the judgment obligor and makes a formal demand for immediate payment in cash, certified check, or manager’s check.
The obligor is given a minimum of 5 days to voluntarily comply (common practice, though not strictly required by the Rules for pure money judgments).
If the obligor pays voluntarily, the sheriff issues a Sheriff’s Return of Satisfied Judgment.

5. Execution Proper When Payment Is Not Made (Rule 39, Sec. 9 – Execution of Money Judgments)

The sheriff has three successive modes:

A. Garnishment (the fastest and most common method)

Garnish bank accounts, salaries (up to 50% of basic salary if above minimum wage), commissions, receivables, shares of stock, royalties, etc.
File an ex parte motion for garnishment with the court; the sheriff serves the Notice of Garnishment on the bank or third-party debtor.
Funds in the garnished account are immediately frozen and turned over to the sheriff upon order.
Garnishment extends to money in deposit even if in joint accounts or in the name of spouse (unless proven to be paraphernal/exclusive property).

B. Levy on Personal Property

Levy on vehicles, machinery, equipment, jewelry, appliances, stocks, etc.
The sheriff prepares an inventory, takes custody, and schedules a public auction not earlier than 20 days from levy.
The obligor may redeem the property within 5 days after levy by paying the full amount plus expenses.

C. Levy on Real Property (last resort)

Levy on lands, buildings, condominium units, subdivision lots, etc.
Requires annotation of Notice of Levy on the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT/CCT/OCT) at the Registry of Deeds.
Public auction is held not earlier than 20 days nor later than 120 days from levy.
The judgment obligor has one (1) year equity of redemption from the date of registration of the Certificate of Sale (except when the purchaser is a bank or the mortgagee in a foreclosure case).

6. Execution Against the Supersedeas Bond (if appeal bond was posted)

If the judgment obligor posted a supersedeas bond to stay execution during appeal, file a motion to execute against the bond.
The bonding company is solidarily liable up to the full amount of the bond plus interest.
This is the quickest way to collect when a bond exists.

7. Additional Enforcement Remedies

A. Examination of Judgment Debtor (Rule 39, Sec. 36)

File a motion for examination under oath of the debtor or any person believed to be holding assets.
The court may issue a subpoena duces tecum for bank records, titles, contracts, etc.
Refusal to answer or disclose can result in contempt.

B. Examination of Debtor of the Judgment Debtor (Rule 39, Sec. 37)

Third persons who owe money to the judgment obligor can be compelled to appear and be examined.

C. Contempt Proceedings (Rule 39, Sec. 38 & Rule 71)

If the judgment obligor hides assets, transfers property in fraud of creditors, or disobeys lawful orders (e.g., order to produce documents), file a motion for indirect contempt.
Penalty: fine or imprisonment until compliance.

D. Break-Open Order

If money or personal property is inside a house or building, the sheriff may apply for a break-open order.

E. Appointment of Receiver (Rule 59)

In extreme cases, the court may appoint a receiver to take over the business or income-generating properties of the obligor.

8. Special Situations and Defenses (Very Limited After Finality)

The judgment obligor can only raise the following after finality:

Payment or satisfaction already made
Novation or compromise
Supervening event making execution inequitable or impossible
Improper computation of interest
Third-party claim on levied property (must file separate action for terciaria within 5 years)

Defenses such as lack of jurisdiction, fraud, or mistake are barred by res judicata.

9. Accrual of Interest

6% per annum legal interest from date of finality of judgment until full payment (Nacar v. Gallery Frames, G.R. No. 189871, August 13, 2013; Lara’s Gifts v. Midtown Industrial, G.R. No. 225433, September 20, 2022).
If the original award already includes conventional interest or attorney’s fees, these continue to run.

10. Revival of Judgment After 5 Years

File an action for revival of judgment in a new case (not a mere motion).
Prescriptive period: 10 years from entry of judgment (Article 1144(3), Civil Code).
The revived judgment is again enforceable for another 10 years.

Practical Tips for the Judgment Creditor

Immediately monitor the docket of the court of origin for the Entry of Judgment.
Coordinate closely with the sheriff; pay sheriff’s fees and expenses promptly (these are reimbursable from the proceeds).
File garnishment motions against all known banks simultaneously.
Secure certified true copies of titles, vehicle registrations, and stock certificates early.
If the debtor is a corporation, pierce the corporate veil or go after directors/officers who acted in bad faith (jurisprudence allows this in extreme cases).

Once a monetary judgment becomes final and executory in the Philippines, the judgment creditor holds an extremely strong position. The law heavily favors enforcement, and the sheriff’s powers are broad. With proper and aggressive follow-up, full collection is almost always achievable unless the debtor is truly insolvent.