In the digital age, the anonymity provided by social media is often perceived as a shield for illicit activities. However, under Philippine law and modern forensic capabilities, this shield is far from impenetrable. The Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) possess the legal mandate and technical avenues to trace accounts—even those that have been deactivated or were created under false "dummy" identities.

1. The Legal Framework: Republic Act No. 10175

The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175) serves as the primary legal backbone for addressing online offenses. Under this law, the State recognizes the vital role of information and communications industries and the need to protect them from misuse.

Section 14 (Disclosure of Computer Data): Law enforcement authorities, upon securing a Court Warrant to Disclose Computer Data (WDCD), can require service providers (like Meta/Facebook) to disclose subscriber information, traffic data, and relevant content.
Section 15 (Preservation of Computer Data): Law enforcement can request the preservation of data for a period of six months, extendable once, ensuring that even if a user attempts to delete or deactivate an account, the data remains accessible for investigation.

2. Deactivated vs. Deleted Accounts

There is a critical legal and technical distinction between deactivation and deletion:

Deactivation: This is a temporary state. Meta retains all account data, including messages, IP logs, and friend lists. For the PNP or NBI, a deactivated account is easily accessible once a legal request is processed.
Deletion: Even when an account is "permanently deleted," there is a grace period (typically 30 days) before the data is purged from Meta’s servers. Furthermore, logs of the account's activity—such as interactions with other users—remain visible on the recipients' ends, providing a "digital breadcrumb" trail.

3. Tracing "Dummy" Accounts

A "dummy" account (an account using a fake name and no identifiable photos) does not grant absolute anonymity. Law enforcement employs several methods to unmask the creator:

IP Address Tracking: Every time an account is accessed, it leaves an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Law enforcement can request these logs from Meta and subsequently coordinate with local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like PLDT, Globe, or Converge to identify the physical address or the subscriber associated with that IP.
Digital Footprints and Metadata: Dummy accounts often interact with the creator’s real circle or use the same device/browser used for legitimate accounts. Forensic analysis can link these accounts through shared cookies, device IDs, or recovery phone numbers/emails.
The SIM Card Registration Act (RA 11934): With the full implementation of SIM registration in the Philippines, dummy accounts linked to local mobile numbers are now significantly easier to trace back to a verified identity.

4. International Cooperation and Metadata

Meta (Facebook) complies with "Emergency Disclosure Requests" and formal "Legal Process Requests." While Meta is a US-based company, it cooperates with Philippine law enforcement regarding crimes such as:

Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC)
Threats of violence or terrorism
Cyber-libel (though this often requires more rigorous judicial hurdles)

The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between the Philippines and the United States further facilitates the exchange of evidence for criminal matters, ensuring that the "borderless" nature of the internet does not stop local prosecution.

5. Procedural Requirements for Law Enforcement

For evidence to be admissible in a Philippine court, the PNP or NBI must strictly follow the Rule on Cybercrime Warrants:

Warrant to Disclose Computer Data (WDCD): Necessary to compel Meta or an ISP to reveal the identity behind a dummy account.
Warrant to Examine Computer Data (WECD): Necessary when a device (phone or laptop) has been seized and needs to be forensically searched for account artifacts.

6. Limitations and Realities

While the technical and legal means exist, tracing is not instantaneous. Success often depends on:

Promptness: Victims must report and request data preservation before logs are naturally overwritten.
Severity of the Crime: Meta is more likely to fast-track requests involving physical safety or child exploitation than those involving simple cyber-libel.
The "Burner" Factor: If a perpetrator used a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and a non-registered international SIM, the complexity of the investigation increases exponentially, though it remains theoretically possible through advanced traffic analysis.

Summary Table: Traceability Factors

Action	Traceability Status	Primary Method
Deactivated Account	High	Data preservation request to Meta via WDCD.
Dummy Account	Medium to High	IP log matching with ISP subscriber records.
Deleted Account	Moderate	Depends on the time elapsed and interaction logs.
VPN/Tor Usage	Low to Moderate	Requires international coordination and deep packet inspection.