- Statute
- Revised Penal Code
- Article
- Art. 287
- Topic
- Light coercions
- Status
- In force, as amended
- Year
- 1930
- Cited by
- Multiple Supreme Court decisions
The provision
ARTICLE 287. Light coercions. -Any person who, by means of violence, shall seize anything belonging to his debtor for the purpose of applying the same to the payment of the debt, shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its minimum period and a fine equivalent to the value of the thing, but in no case less than 75 pesos. Any other coercions or unjust vexations shall be punished by arresto menor or a fine ranging from 5 to 200 pesos, or both.
Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms
It is a crime (light coercion) for someone to use violence to seize a debtor's property in order to force payment of the debt; the penalty is a short jail term plus a fine equal to the thing's value but not below a set floor. Any other coercion or unjust vexation is punished by a very short jail term or a small fine, or both.
An editorially maintained plain-language explanation of this provision — not legal advice.
Intellegal Wiki · How the courts apply it
In Renato Baleros, Jr v. People, the Supreme Court held: Attempted rape requires overt acts that would logically ripen into rape; where the accused made no attempt to undress or touch the complainant, there is no attempted rape, though the conduct may constitute light coercion or unjust vexation under Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code.
One leading Supreme Court case applying this provision.
Key points
Article 287 punishes light coercions. Its first paragraph penalizes a person who, by means of violence, seizes anything belonging to a debtor to apply it to the debt. Its second paragraph is the basis of unjust vexation: any other coercions or unjust vexations are punished by arresto menor or a fine, or both.
Unjust vexation is a catch-all for human conduct that, without violence, annoys, irritates, or vexes another without lawful justification; the gravamen is the disturbance of the offended party's peace of mind. The provision is frequently charged in interpersonal disputes and is read with the coercion and threat provisions of the same chapter.
Cases applying this article
- People v. Bernardo Reyes G.R. No. L-7712
- Renato Baleros, Jr v. People G.R. No. 138033
- Lee v. People G.R. No. 237091
- Teddy Peña y Romero v. People G.R. No. 261807
- Mapilisan v. People G.R. No. 266597