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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Third Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Unjust vexation is punished under the 2nd paragraph of Article 287 of the 
Revised Peiial Code: 
“Any other coercions or unjust vexations shall be punished by arrest0 
menor or a fine ranging from 5 pesos to 200 pesos, or both.” 
It is a well-established doctrine that a criminal or penal legislation must clearly 
define 01’ specify the particular acts or omissions punished. 
Unlike the crimes of theft, murder and rape that are specifically defined in the 
Revised Penal Code, the definition of the crime of unjust vexation is conspicuously 
absent. Because of this Article 287, paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code that punishes 
“unjust vexation” sufrers from congenital defects and may be declared unconstitutional 
for the following reasons: 
a) Article 287, paragraph 2 of the Revised Peiial Code condemns no 
specific or definite act or omission thus failing to define any crime or 
felony; 
b) Said penal provision is so indefinite, vague and overbroad as not to 
enable it to be known what act is forbidden; 
c) Such vagueness and overbreadth result to violation of the due process 
clause and the right to be informed of the nature of the offense charged; 
and 


d) Such vagueness and overbreadth liltewise amount to an invalid 
delegation by Congress of its legislative power to the courts to determine 
what acts should be held criminal and punishable. 
The state having the right to declare what acts are criminal, within certain well 
defined limitations, has a right to specify what act or acts shall constitute a crime, as well 
as what act or acts shall constitute a crime. Hence, the instant bill seeks to provide a legal 
defiiiitioii for the crime of “unjust vexation” and provide the corresponding penalty for its 
commission. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
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SEN4p-J 2 'i 
S. B. NO. 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
AMENDING ARTICLE 287 OF ACT NO. 3815, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE AND CREATING A NEW ARTICLE 
DEFINING THE CRIME OF UNJUST VEXATION AND INCREASING THE 
PENALTY THEREOF 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House ofRepresentatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Amending Article 287of the Revised Penal Code - Art. 287 of Act 
No. 3815, as amended, otheiwise known as the Revised Penal Code, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
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. 
SECTION 2. Dejning the Crime of Unjust Vexation - A new Article 287-A 
defining the crime of Unjust Vexation and providing for its penalty shall be included in 
Act No. 3815 otherwise known as the Revised Penal Code, which read as follows: 
Article. 287-A. Unjust Vexation - Any person who commits a course of 
conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional 
distress in such a person and serves no legitimate purpose shall suffer the 
penalty of arresto mayor in its minimum period or a fine ranging [ram 500 
pesos to 5000 pesos, or both. 
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SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutioaal, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 5. E’ectivity 
Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved 
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