Unjust Vexation: Meaning in Philippine Law

Article 287, as amended by Republic Act No. 10951, says:

The law does not define the term. The definition comes from the Supreme Court.

In Baleros v. People (2006), the Court said the term is "broad enough to include any human conduct which, although not productive of some physical or material harm, would unjustly annoy or irritate an innocent person." The main question, it said, is whether the act causes annoyance, irritation, torment, distress or disturbance to the mind of the person it is aimed at.

The Court also said unjust vexation exists even without restraint or compulsion. In that case, the accused was acquitted of attempted rape. The Court held that his acts against the complainant were unjust vexation, punishable as light coercion under the second paragraph of Article 287, and found him guilty of that.

The penalty is arresto menor (one to thirty days) or a fine of ₱1,000 to ₱40,000, or both. Under Article 9, an offense with this penalty is a light felony. On deadlines, Article 90 says light offenses prescribe in two months.

Made-up illustration: Every night for a week, Lito bangs on his neighbor Celia's gate at 2 a.m. and runs away, only to annoy her. Nobody is hurt and nothing is broken. This may be unjust vexation. If Lito had threatened to hurt Celia, the act could instead be a threat (see grave threats).

See Unjust vexation in the Philippines for examples and what to do, and Noisy neighbor complaint.