Filipino Nationals Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano Unlawfully Refused to Allow Their American Tenant to Remove $50K of His Personal Property Out of His Former Rental
Cebu City – There is only one legal question under Filipino law that matters in this incredibly unfortunate case, apparently driven by the spirit of avarice.
QUESTION: Did Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano refuse to allow their American tenant to remove his property?
ANSWER: Yes.
In January 2017, Filipino Nationals Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano, who are also US citizens and reside in the United States, illegally refused to allow their former American tenant to remove US$50,000 worth of personal property in the condo he was renting from them for him and his daughter. The American is going to file a lawsuit in Las Vegas, NV where both parties live on September 1, 2025, and thereafter in Cebu City, Cebu Philippines. Christian Digital News has seen video evidence of the tenants personal property and can confirm they represent the photos shown below.
One thing is crystal clear: under both Filipino and American law the Pastrano’s had no legal right to:
- Refuse to allow the former American tenant to remove his personal property.
- No right to keep any of the tenants property under any circumstances.
- No right to remove the tenants property and give it to any third party for any reason.
OPINION: According to Filipino law, what is commonly referred to as ‘Self-Help Eviction,’ Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano were in possession of stolen property (Qualified Theft) once they refused to allow the tenant to move his personal property out which is illegal under the Philippines’ Rent Control Act (Republic Act 9653) and the Civil Code. The Pastrano’s actively and willfully prevented the tenant from recovering his property.
Important Facts
COURT ORDER: The only way a Filipino landlord can confiscate and/or refuse to allow any renter to remove their personal property is with a Court Order. The Pastrano’s never obtained a Court Order nor presented a Court Order to the American tenants or their Filipino attorney.
MOVE-OUT BEGUN: Christian friends of the former tenant had already moved some of his items out in mid-January 2017 but later were prevented from moving his remaining items out which was of significant monetary value.
On January 19, 2017, the American tenant’s Filipino attorney emailed a notarized letter to the Pastrano’s clearly articulating that the Pastrano’s had three months deposit which meant they were paid in full through February 1, 2017, and then in February the American tenant would be back to move his remaining items out, which were of significant monetary value. The attorney graciously and professionally left his cell number, as well as his Viber app number, for the Pastrano’s to contact him directly but they chose not to. The notarized document will be attached as an exhibit.
Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano were professionally communicated to at all times. Sometime after receiving this document, the Pastrano’s changed the lock on the door because when the church contacts went to the unit to move more items out, the key did not work. This once again was violating Filipino law as the Pastrano’s refused to allow the American tenants to remove their personal property and complete their move-out which they were legally entitled to under Filipino law.
Problems From The Beginning: Filipino Nationals Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano Refused to Sign The Lease for 4 Months
From the very beginning when the American family moved in to the condo on November 18, 2015, the father continually petitioned both the condo management and/or Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano to sign the lease. Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano did not show respect for the rule of law in the Philippines nor take their legal obligations seriously and for 4 full months the lease was deemed invalid because it was not signed by the Landlords. The American tenant described the continual stress of having to track down the Pastrano’s to get them to sign the lease was “like pulling teeth.” This text message was sent on February 26, 2016 at 3:58am Philippines time, asking yet again for the Pastrano’s to sign the lease to make the lease valid.
A National Issue That Needs to be Discussed
There are many unfortunate stories and videos online that tell the same narrative where unethical Filipino landlords will unlawfully hold a foreigner’s property hostage, refusing to permit move-out as Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano did, or in many cases refuse to give back their deposits. In fact there are several online posts from Filipino lawyers Addressing the Refusal of Landlords to Refund Security Deposits in the Philippines. This has been a major problem in the Philippines.
On Monday, September 1, 2025, if the Pastrano’s have not properly compensated their former American tenant, a lawsuit will be filed in the 8th Judicial District in Las Vegas, NV where both parties reside. Shortly after, a lawsuit and criminal charges will be filed in Cebu City as well.
Filipino Nationals Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano Unlawfully Refused to Allow Their American Tenant to Remove His $31K of Intellectual Property Out of His Former Rental
The unfortunate willful choice of Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano, who had no legal right to refuse to allow their former model American tenant to remove his intellectual property, consisting of a DVD with coding on it for a Christian venture that he and his US investor paid US$31,000+ for, is understood as ‘Qualified Theft’ under Filipino law. The website and coding was developed by a web development & IT company out of Houston, TX. Christian Digital News has confirmed the company name, work done, and the price that was paid in full.
Model Tenant
What makes the Pastrano’s theft of their American renter’s property was that he was a model tenant in every regard who took immaculate care of their investment property. The Pastrano’s even forced him to pay for 50% of a glass shower door he requested they put in to stop water from flooding the bathroom floor, which was slippery when wet, to protect his 3yr old daughter from slipping, falling and potentially suffering serious injury. Though the American tenant did not want to pay for any capital improvements to the Pastrano’s condo, as it was not his investment, he quietly and respectfully agreed. The tenant even contacted several individuals for the job and finally found someone who would do it as a great price and they came and installed everything professionally. Still, Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano never thanked him for paying for half of their investment which was entirely inappropriate to ask any renter to do.
On top of this, the renter paid his rent typically 3/4 days early every month. On top of this, the Pastrano’s unit had severe outbreaks and infestations of ants which is common in the Philippines. The tenant at his own expense, never bothered the Filipino/American landlords and simply made multiple repairs using transparent silicone all over the studio condo. The American tenant estimated it took almost 9 months before the ant infestations finally stopped.
The Most Beautiful Condo
The management of the condo towers told the American tenant father that their condo “was the most beautiful condo in both towers.” They commented on the styling and furnishings and absolutely raved about the father’s eye for interior design. In fact, they approached the American tenant and asked him if they could bring perspective condo buyers to his condo to demonstrate how stylish a condo could look when properly furnished. The American tenant was good natured and responded by telling them “yes,” but to please give him 24 to 48 hours notice before bringing any perspective buyer to his condo. The American tenant stated that they brought a few different potential condo buyers who spent about 20 minutes in the condo and asked the Christian father several questions while complementing him on the father and daughter’s beautiful home.
Filipino Nationals Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano Unlawfully Refused to Allow Their American Tenant to Remove His $15K of New Furniture, Electronics & Clothing Out of His Former Rental
Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano had no legal right to refuse to allow their former model tenant to remove his brand new furniture, electronics and personal clothing which totaled in excess of US$15,000 dollars.
Filipino Nationals Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano Unlawfully Refused to Allow Their American Tenant to Remove His $3K of Health Records Out of His Former Rental During a Medical Emergency
Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano had no legal right to refuse to allow their former model tenant to remove his health records which totaled in excess of US$3,000 dollars.
On January 24, 2016 the American tenant almost died due to what eventually was found to be a large blood clot. In the first week of April 2017 the tenant had a small heart attack in Manila and was in the hospital with his daughter when he contacted Concepcion Pastrano via Viber. He explained his current condition and that the cardiologist in charge of his care wanted all his medical records to triage appropriately his cardiovascular condition and take appropriate medical action. The tenant shared that all his records and angiogram x-rays were in a large envelope behind the refrigerator.
The American asked that someone get his medical records from his rental unit and that church friends would pick them up at the front desk and then immediately mail them to Manila. Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano refused and again were breaking Filipino law not allowing tenant to remove his personal property, even in a life-threatening medical situation where time was of the essence.
All in all, the former tenant lost over US$50,000 when Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano immorally and illegally refused to allow all of his intellectual property, brand new furniture, electronics, personal clothing, and medical records to be removed from his condo.
This is a developing story and Christian Digital News will continue to report on the efforts for the American family to get justice and proper compensation from Dennis and Concepcion Pastrano who willfully violated Filipino law refusing to allow the Christian family to remove all their personal property.
