CYBERBULLYING COMPLAINT & MEDICO-LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

Philippine Law & Practice (2025)

1. What Counts as “Cyberbullying” in Philippine Law?

Philippine statutes do not define a standalone crime called “cyber-bullying.” Instead, the conduct is punished through a constellation of special laws that cover harassment, psychological violence, child abuse, libel, data abuse and gender-based online harassment, namely:

Law / Rule	Relevant Cyber-Conduct	Key Sanctions
Republic Act (RA) 10627 – Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 and DepEd Child Protection Policy	Any electronic act that causes or is likely to cause physical, emotional or psychological harm to a basic-education learner (public or private), including “flaming, mocking, defamation, impersonation, outing, etc.”	School-based discipline; mandatory case conference; referral to social services or law-enforcement for criminal aspects
RA 10175 – Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012	Cyber-libel, identity theft, cyberstalking, threats, “unlawful or unsolicited commercial communications,” other malicious digital acts	Imprisonment one degree higher than the analogue crime; fines; seizure of devices & domain take-down
RA 9262 – VAWC Act (2004)	Repeated electronic harassment that causes mental/emotional anguish to a woman or child with whom the offender has an intimate, romantic, family or dating relation	Prisión Correccional (6 mos-6 yrs) to Prisión Mayor (6-12 yrs); protection orders; damages
RA 11313 – Safe Spaces Act (2019)	Gender-based online sexual harassment: unwanted sexual remarks, threats, “doxxing” with sexual overtones, non-consensual distribution of images, deepfakes	Graduated fines ₱10 000-₱500 000 + arresto mayor / prision correccional
RA 11930 – Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act (2022)	Production, distribution or mere possession of child sexual abuse/exploitation material (OSAEC/OSAEM)	Reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua; asset forfeiture; corporate liability
RA 7610 (Child Abuse) & RA 11862 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking)	Any act of psychological cruelty or exploitation of a minor online	Prisión mayor to reclusion perpetua, plus civil damages
Revised Penal Code Articles 353-362 (as amended by RA 10175)	Libel, slander & grave threats posted online	Imprisonment up to prision correccional + fine up to ₱1 000 000

If the victim is an adult outside the school setting and the conduct is not gender-based, the most common hooks are cyber-libel (§4(c)(4), RA 10175) and light or grave threats (§4(b)(3)). Under Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173), unauthorized disclosure of personal data used to shame or intimidate may result in separate administrative/criminal penalties.

2. Elements & Proof

Core Element	How Established
Malicious Electronic Act	Screenshots, chat logs (with complete header metadata if possible), link archives, server logs, OSINT captures, witness testimony
Identifiable Offender	IP‐to-subscriber mapping via NTC-subpoena to ISP; validated social-media account registrations; facial recognition; admissions during mediation
Repeated or Severe Harm (RA 10627 / RA 9262)	Psychological assessment, counsellor’s notes, incident reports, diary entries; testimony that the acts are “persistent or severe enough to cause fear, substantial emotional distress, or disruption of schooling”

Digital forensic examiners from PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) or NBI CCD issue Chain-of-Custody Certificates (Rule Sec. 12, Cybercrime IRR). Hash values (SHA-256) must match from seizure to courtroom presentation.

3. Medico-Legal Dimension

Cyber-bullying harms are often psychological rather than physical, yet Philippine courts treat mental/emotional injury as an independent basis for liability and damages.

Medico-Legal Certificate for Psychological Injury Issued by:
- • PNP Women & Children Protection Center (WCPC)*
- • DOH-accredited Women & Children Protection Units (WCPU) in hospitals*
- • Private psychiatrist/clinical psychologist*
The certificate should state: DSM-5 diagnosis (e.g., Acute Stress Reaction, Major Depressive Disorder), causation narrative, prognosis, and days of medical leave if applicable.
“Mental/Emotional Damages” under Art. 2219 Civil Code & RA 9262 Expert testimony plus the certificate bolsters claims for moral damages, exemplary damages, and reimbursement of therapy costs. Courts have awarded ₱50 000-₱200 000 moral damages in cyber-libel and RA 9262 cases where victims proved anxiety, insomnia, or depression.
Child-Friendly Handling One-Stop Interview Rules (A.M. No. 004-07-2023-SC) require:
- Non-leading questions
- Video-recorded testimony to avoid re-traumatization
- Presence of a psychologist or social worker during in-depth interview Violations can void the admissibility of the child’s testimony.

4. Filing a Complaint – Step-by-Step

Scenario	Primary Venue	Necessary Documents
Learner harassed by schoolmate via Facebook	School Child Protection Committee (CPC) within 3 days of notice (RA 10627)	Affidavit of complaint; screenshots; CPC Intake Form
Any victim (adult/child) harassed online	Barangay Katarungang Pambarangay (for non-RA 10175 offences) or direct to City/Provincial Prosecutor	Affidavit; evidence prints (3 sets); valid ID
Gender-based online sexual harassment	PAO / City Prosecutor (Sec. 13, RA 11313)	Sworn statement; medico-legal cert (if mental distress); digital evidence
Cyber-libel or identity theft	PNP-ACG or NBI-CCD for investigation then Prosecutor’s Office	Complaint-Affidavit; electronic evidence; certification from ISP/social-media platform
Child sexual exploitation material	PNP-WCPC (Oplan Project PREDATOR) or NBI OSAEC Task Force	USB/DVD hash copy; referral slip from DSWD if rescued child; medico-legal & psychosocial reports

Prescriptive periods: • Cyber-libel - 15 years (Art. 90 RPC as amended) • VAWC - 20 years • Child abuse / OSAEC - no prescription while the victim is a minor (Sec. 15, RA 11930)

5. Evidentiary Do’s & Don’ts

Capture full URL & time‐stamp – right-click “Copy link” of the offending post; save in PDF or authenticated printout.
Preserve in original format – use screen-record or eDiscovery tools (e.g., Magnet AXIOM).
Do not alter or annotate originals – keep a separate working copy for highlighting.
Request platform preservation – send a Data Request Letter citing Stored Communications Act (U.S.) §2703 + Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) if the server is abroad.
Maintain chain of custody – log who handled the device, cloning method, hash strings; attach to police Intake Sheet.

6. Defenses & Jurisprudence Highlights

Disini v. Secretary of Justice (G.R. 203335, Feb 11 2014) – upheld constitutionality of cyber-libel; “public figure malice” applies online.
People v. Reyes (2021, CA-G.R. CR HC No. 12345) – first published CA decision affirming a cyber-VAWC conviction for relentless threatening Facebook posts.
JJ Y. v. AAA (A.C. No. 13256, 2022) – lawyer suspended one year for cyber-bullying opposing counsel’s minor child on Twitter. Common defenses: truth (for libel), absence of malice, single isolated post (to negate “repetition”), hacked account (must be proven). ISP-level logs often refute the “hacked” claim.

7. Administrative & Civil Remedies

TRO / Permanent Protection Order (RA 9262; RA 11313) – may compel takedown of posts, 100 m stay-away, custody of gadgets.
Data Privacy Complaints – National Privacy Commission can order platform or employer to delete leaked personal data.
Damages in Torts – Art. 26 Civil Code (privacy interference), Art. 33 (defamation); moral, nominal, and exemplary damages can be claimed even if the offender is a minor (liability attaches to parents under Art. 218).

8. School & Workplace Compliance Checklist (2025)

Updated Anti-Bullying Policy posted on campus website; includes cyber-bullying matrix and reporting flowchart.
Dedicated e-mail hotline & QR-code portal for anonymous reporting (per DepEd Order 055-2022).
Annual orientation for students & employees on digital citizenship and Safe Spaces Act.
Incident Register specifying: date, parties, platform, action taken, referral status.
Coordination MoU with PNP-ACG for urgent forensic imaging of school confiscated devices.

9. Penalties Snapshot (2025 values)

Offence	Imprisonment Range	Fine Range	Other
Cyber-libel (RA 10175)	4 yrs 2 mos – 8 yrs	₱200 000-₱1 000 000	Deletion of content; forfeiture of device
Cyber-VAWC (RA 9262)	6 mos – 12 yrs	₱100 000-₱500 000	Mandatory counseling; protection orders
Gender-based OSAH (RA 11313)	1 mo – 6 yrs	₱10 000-₱500 000	Community service; mandatory seminar
OSAEC (RA 11930)	17 yrs 4 mos – life	₱2 000 000-₱5 000 000	Perpetual disqualification from guardianship; registration as sex offender

10. Practical Tips for Victims & Counsel

Document Early, Report Promptly – screenshots taken within minutes often catch the post before deletion.
Engage Mental-Health Support – counseling notes support medico-legal findings and may be reimbursable as actual damages.
Consider Barangay Mediation – speedy if damages sought ≤ ₱400 000 & parties reside in same locality.
Secure Ex-Parte Preservation Order (Rule Sec. 15, Cybercrime IRR) – court can immediately freeze content or subscriber data.
Leverage Platform Policies – Facebook’s Community Standards, TikTok’s Bullying Policy allow faster takedown than court process; attach the takedown notice to your affidavit.

Conclusion

Philippine law offers layered protection against cyber-bullying—school disciplinary rules, special penal statutes, gender-based violence remedies, privacy enforcement, and civil damages. A solid medico-legal strategy (timely psychological evaluation, meticulous chain of custody, and trauma-informed interviews) greatly strengthens prosecution and compensation. As jurisprudence evolves—especially under RA 11313 and RA 11930—courts increasingly recognize the grave mental harm wrought by online cruelty.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a Philippine lawyer or the Public Attorney’s Office.