In the Philippine legal framework, the concept of a tort is distinct from its Anglo-American counterpart. While the Civil Code does not provide a singular statutory definition, De Leon synthesizes the legal essence of a tort as “a legal wrong that causes harm for which the violator is subject to civil liability”. He further clarifies the as “the commission or omission of an act by one, without right, whereby another receives some injury, directly or indirectly, in person, property, or reputation”. This foundational definition establishes the core principle that tort law is about repairing private wrongs, shifting the cost of harm from the innocent victim to the wrongdoer.
The law protects persons from unfair dealings. De Leon discusses , which govern Human Relations (e.g., respecting the rights of others, preventing abuse of rights, and protecting privacy). B. Vicarious Liability (Article 2180) torts and damages de leon
"Whoever by act or omission causes damage to another, there being fault or negligence, is obliged to pay for the damage done. Such fault or negligence, if there is no pre-existing contractual relation between the parties, is called a quasi-delict..." Essential Elements of a Quasi-Delict In the Philippine legal framework, the concept of
De Leon notes that moral damages are not automatically awarded in torts, but only in specific cases, such as physical injuries, libel, slander, or malicious prosecution. 5. Vicarious Liability (Article 2180) there being fault or negligence
The text further breaks down torts based on the actor's state of mind.