Article 148Direct assaults
ELI5— what this means for you
Direct assault: attacking or using force against a person in authority (e.g., a police officer, judge, or teacher) while they are performing their duties — or because of their past performance of duty.
Key point
Hitting or threatening a police officer on duty is direct assault, which has a heavier penalty than simple physical injuries.
Official text — Act No. 3815
Direct assaults.
-Any person or persons who, direct assaults, without a public uprising, shall employ force or intimidation for the attainment of any of the purposes enumerated in defining the crimes of rebellion and sedition, or shall attack, employ force or seriously intimidate or resist any person in authority or any of his agents, while engaged in the performance of official duties, or on occasion of such performance, shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional in its medium and maximum periods and a fine not exceeding 1,000 pesos, when the assault is committed with a weapon or when the offender is a public officer or employee, or when the offender lays hands upon a person in authority. If none of these circumstances be present the penalty of prision correccional in its minimum period and a fine not exceeding 500 pesos shall be imposed.
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