Article 283 of the Revised Penal Code: Light threats
Status: In force
What does Article 283 say?
A threat to commit a wrong not constituting a crime, made in the manner expressed in subdivision 1 of the next preceding article, shall be punished by arresto mayor.
What does it mean in plain language?
Article 283 punishes a threat to commit a wrong that is not a crime, when it is made with a demand for money or another condition. The penalty is arresto mayor, from 1 month and 1 day to 6 months. If the wrong threatened is itself a crime, the threat is grave threats under Article 282, which has heavier penalties.
The full text:
A threat to commit a wrong not constituting a crime, made in the manner expressed in subdivision 1 of the next preceding article, shall be punished by arresto mayor.
How does it work in real life?
Lito: "Withdraw your complaint or I will tell your boss"
Lito tells his neighbor Rey: "Withdraw your complaint against my son, or I will tell your boss that you were late every day last month." Telling an employer a true fact is not a crime, and there is a condition. This may be light threats under Article 283.
Marites: no condition
In an argument, Marites tells her co-worker, "I will tell everyone what you did at the party." She asks for nothing. The wrong threatened is not a crime and there is no condition, so this is closer to other light threats under Article 285.
Ben: a threat to burn a house
Ben tells his debtor, "Pay me by Friday or I will burn your house." Burning a house is a crime. This is not light threats but grave threats under Article 282, even though there is a condition.
What does this mean in practice?
- Barangay, police or prosecutor. Threat complaints can be brought to the barangay, the police or the prosecutor. See do I need to go to the barangay first? and the barangay guides.
- Keep the evidence. Messages, notes and witnesses help show the exact words and the condition.
- Prescription. Crimes punishable by arresto mayor prescribe in five years under Article 90.
- Related offenses. Acts that annoy or harass without any threat may be unjust vexation. For the full guide on threats, see grave threats.
- The court decides. Whether the wrong threatened is a crime, and whether there was a condition, is decided by the prosecutor and the court on the facts.
- Threats are among the crimes that can arise in a traffic quarrel. See road rage: which crimes can apply?
What does "in the manner expressed in subdivision 1" mean?
Article 283 borrows the manner from Article 282, paragraph 1. That paragraph covers threats made with a demand for money or with any other condition, "even though not unlawful". So light threats have two parts:
- The wrong threatened is not a crime. For example, a threat to tell someone's employer a true fact.
- There is a condition. The person making the threat asks for money or demands that the other person do or not do something.
The condition is what separates light threats from other light threats under Article 285, where there is no condition.
How do courts tell light threats from grave threats?
In Caluag v. People (2009), the Supreme Court gave a short test for the three kinds of threats in the Code:
| Crime | Is the wrong threatened a crime? | Is there a condition? | Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grave threats (Art. 282) | Yes | With or without | Depends on the crime threatened; arresto mayor and a fine of up to ₱100,000 if there is no condition |
| Light threats (Art. 283) | No | Always | Arresto mayor |
| Other light threats (Art. 285) | No | No | Arresto menor in its minimum period or a fine of up to ₱40,000 |
In the Court's words: "In light threats, the wrong threatened does not amount to a crime but is always accompanied by a condition." The fines in the table are the amounts set by Republic Act No. 10951 for Articles 282 and 285. Article 283 has no fine, and RA 10951 did not change it.
Can the court also require a bond?
Yes. Article 284 applies to both grave and light threats:
In all cases falling within the two next preceding articles, the person making the threats may also be required to give bail not to molest the person threatened, or if he shall fail to give such bail, he shall be sentenced to destierro.
Destierro is a penalty that bans the person from entering a place set by the court.
Frequently asked questions
What are light threats in the Philippines?
Under Article 283, light threats are a threat to commit a wrong that is not a crime, made with a demand for money or another condition, in the manner described in Article 282(1). The penalty is arresto mayor, which runs from 1 month and 1 day to 6 months.
What is the difference between grave threats and light threats?
In grave threats, the wrong threatened is a crime, with or without a condition. In light threats, the wrong threatened is not a crime but always comes with a condition. The Supreme Court stated this test in Caluag v. People (2009).
Is there a fine for light threats?
No. Article 283 sets only arresto mayor. Republic Act No. 10951 of 2017 did not change it.
What if there is no condition?
A threat made orally to do a harm that is not a crime, without any condition, is covered by Article 285 on other light threats, which has a lighter penalty: arresto menor in its minimum period or a fine of up to ₱40,000.
Can the person who threatened me be required to keep away?
Article 284 says a person who made grave or light threats may also be required to give bail not to molest the person threatened. If he fails to give that bail, he is sentenced to destierro.
General information, not legal advice. For your case, ask a lawyer, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) or the agency.
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