Light threats, A283 Revised Penal Code
1. Concept
Light threats – refers to the crime of making any threat to commit a wrong not constituting a crime, made in the manner expressed in subdivision 1 of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code on Grave Threats
a. Legal basis
Art. 282. Grave threats. – Any person who shall threaten another with the infliction upon the person, honor or property of the latter or of his family of any wrong amounting to a crime, shall suffer:
1. The penalty next lower in degree than that prescribed by law for the crime he threatened to commit, if the offender shall have made the threat demanding money or imposing any other condition, even though not unlawful, and said offender shall have attained his purpose x x x
Article 283. Light threats. – Any 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.
Article 284. Bond for good behavior. – In all cases falling within the two next preceding articles [Articles 282 and 283], 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.
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2. Modes of commission
The following are the modes of committing the offense:
1) By making any threat to commit a wrong not constituting a crime
a. Mode 1: Lorem
Elements of the crime of light threats:
1) The offender makes any threat to commit a wrong not constituting a crime, made in the manner expressed in subdivision 1 of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code on Grave Threats (REVISED PENAL CODE, Article 283)
Element 1: Lorem
For the 1st element, the offender makes any threat to commit a wrong not constituting a crime, made in the manner expressed in subdivision 1 of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code on Grave Threats.
Per Grave Threats under subdivision 1 of Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code, the offender shall have made the threat demanding money or imposing any other condition, even though not unlawful, and said offender shall have attained his purpose.
Batolanon v. Leorente, En Banc, G.R. No. L-17994, August 31, 1963, Per Padilla, J.:
• Whether the Justice of the Peace Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the case hinges on the resolution of two questions raised by the appellants, to wit: whether the facts alleged in the complaint constitute the crime of light threat; and if they do constitute such crime, whether it has prescribed.
• The appellants argue that as the purpose of extorting money from the offended party was not attained by them, the penalty to be imposed should be two degrees lower than arresto mayor, which is arresto menor, pursuant to the two above-quoted articles which must be read together; and as the complaint was filed after two months from the date of the alleged commission of the crime, the prosecution of the crime is barred by the statute of limitations and the Justice of the Peace has no jurisdiction to hear and determine the case. The argument is without merit. The correlation between articles 283 and 282, subdivision 1, of the Revised Penal Code is confined only to the manner of committing the threat, such as demanding money or imposing any other condition, without changing or altering the penalties each imposes. Article 282 refers to threat to commit a wrong amounting to a crime, whereas article 283, to a wrong not amounting to a crime. In the case at bar, the offense charged is light threat which is punishable by arresto mayor under article 283 of the Revised Penal Code and prescribes in five years.1 The threat was committed on 13 September 1956 and the complaint was filed in court on 10 December 1956. It was filed well within the period of five years.
3. Distinguish from other offenses
This offense is distinguished from other offenses or crimes below.
a. Light threats vs Other light threats
| Factors | Light threats | Other light threats |
| Offended Party | Any person | Any person |
| Offender | Any person | Any person |
| Overt Acts | Offender threatens another but the wrong threatened does not amount to a crime but is always accompanied by a condition | Offender threatens another but the wrong threatened does not amount to a crime and there is no condition. |
Under the Revised Penal Code, there are three kinds of threats: grave threats (Article 282), light threats (Article 283) and other light threats (Article 285). (Caluag v. People, G.R. No. 171511, March 4, 2009, Per Quisumbing, J.)
In light threats, the wrong threatened does not amount to a crime but is always accompanied by a condition. In other light threats, the wrong threatened does not amount to a crime and there is no condition. (Caluag v. People [2009], supra.)
b. Light threats vs Grave threats
| Factors | Light threats | Grave threats |
| Offended Party | Any person | Any person |
| Offender | Any person | Any person |
| Overt Acts | Offender threatens another but the wrong threatened does not amount to a crime but is always accompanied by a condition | Offender threatens another but the wrong threatened amounts to a crime which may or may not be accompanied by a condition. |
In grave threats, the wrong threatened amounts to a crime which may or may not be accompanied by a condition. In light threats, the wrong threatened does not amount to a crime but is always accompanied by a condition. Caluag v. People [2009], supra.)
References
• Title IX – Crimes Against Personal Liberty and Security, Act No. 3815, Revised Penal Code, as amended
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/Updated: November 23, 2023
