Fake social media accounts and online threats can wreck reputations, cause real fear, and snowball fast. In the Philippines, these acts are not “just online drama.” Depending on what happened, they may be criminal, civil, or both. This article explains the laws that usually apply, what evidence you need, where to report, how a case moves, and what remedies you can realistically expect.

1. What counts as cyberbullying, fake accounts, and online threats?

There’s no single Philippine law titled “Cyberbullying Act” for adults, so cases are filed under existing crimes committed through information and communications technology (ICT). In practice, “cyberbullying” can include:

Impersonation / fake accounts pretending to be you or someone else
Harassment and stalking through messages, comments, posts, or repeated tagging
Threats of violence (“papapatayin kita,” “aabangan kita,” etc.)
Blackmail / sextortion (threatening to expose private photos or info)
Public shaming / doxxing (posting addresses, phone numbers, workplace, family details)
Defamatory posts (false accusations meant to ruin your name)
Non-consensual sharing of intimate images
Hate campaigns and coordinated reporting to silence you

Fake accounts alone aren’t automatically crimes; they become illegal when used for deception, harassment, defamation, threats, fraud, or privacy violations.

2. Key Philippine laws you may use (adult victims)

A. Republic Act No. 10175 – Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012

This is the main “cyber” law. It doesn’t create totally new crimes as much as it applies penalties when certain crimes are done online.

Common charges:

Cyber Libel (Sec. 4(c)(4))
- Online publication of defamatory statements identifying you (directly or by clear implication)
- Must be false, malicious, and publicly posted
- Penalty is one degree higher than traditional libel
Online threats / grave threats (as a cyber-related offense)
- Threats are usually penalized under the Revised Penal Code, but RA 10175 increases penalty if done via ICT.
Computer-related identity theft (Sec. 4(b)(3))
- Unauthorized use of another’s identity (name, photo, credentials) to cause harm or gain benefit
- Often used against fake-account impersonation.

B. Revised Penal Code (RPC)

Even if online, many acts remain classic crimes:

Grave Threats (Art. 282) – threat to kill, injure, or do serious harm
Light Threats (Art. 283) – threats of lesser harm
Unjust Vexation / Harassment (Art. 287 / related provisions) – persistent annoyance, humiliation
Slander / Oral defamation (Art. 358) – spoken/live video insults
Libel (Art. 353–355) – defamatory written statements (raised to cyber libel online)

C. Republic Act No. 9995 – Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act

Covers:

Taking, copying, selling, or sharing intimate photos/videos without consent
Even threats to share can support related cases (often paired with threats/extortion).

D. Republic Act No. 10173 – Data Privacy Act of 2012

Applies when a bully:

Discloses your personal data (address, number, IDs, workplace, medical info)
Uses data without consent to harm, embarrass, or harass you
Doxxing often falls here.

E. Republic Act No. 9262 – VAWC (for women victims in certain relationships)

If the offender is:

A current/ex partner, spouse, boyfriend, or someone you dated/had a child with, then online harassment, threats, stalking, humiliation can be Psychological Violence under VAWC.

F. Republic Act No. 9775 – Anti-Child Pornography Act / RA 7610 (for minors)

If the victim is a minor, stronger protections apply, including school-based anti-bullying rules and child-protection statutes.

3. Choosing the right case to file

You don’t need to be a lawyer to start—investigators and prosecutors help classify the offense. Still, here’s a quick guide:

If the main harm is reputation:

Cyber libel (false posts/comments harming your name)

If the main harm is fear of violence:

Grave threats / cyber-related threats

If they pretended to be you:

Identity theft / impersonation
plus harassment/libel if they posted harmful content

If they leaked your private info:

Data Privacy Act complaint
plus threats/harassment if accompanied by intimidation

If intimate images were shared or threatened to be shared:

Anti-Photo/Video Voyeurism
plus threats/extortion

If offender is an intimate partner/ex (woman victim):

VAWC (RA 9262) allows protection orders fast

You can file multiple charges if supported by evidence.

4. What evidence you must collect (and how)

Online cases live or die on evidence quality. Do this before the bully deletes anything:

A. Screenshots (but do them properly)

Capture full screen including:
- Username/handle
- Profile photo
- URL if visible
- Date/time
- The whole conversation thread
For threats, show context (not just one line).

B. Screen recording

Scroll through posts/messages to show continuity
Helps prove the screenshots weren’t cherry-picked.

C. Save links and metadata

Copy the exact post URL
Note the platform, date/time, and any witnesses who saw it.

D. Preserve copies offline

Email screenshots to yourself
Upload to a drive
Store in multiple places.

E. If possible, get notarized or certified copies

Not required at complaint stage, but helpful later.

F. Witnesses

If friends/family saw the post before it vanished, list them. Their statements can support your case.

5. Immediate safety steps (before filing)

Report the content to the platform
- Ask for takedown, impersonation removal, or safety review.
Secure your accounts
- Change passwords, enable 2FA, review logged-in devices.
Stop engaging publicly
- Don’t trade insults; it can be used against you.
Document everything
- Keep a timeline of events.

If threats are serious and immediate, call 911 or go to the nearest police station at once.

6. Where to file a cyberbullying/online threat complaint

A. Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG)

Good for fast intake and investigation.
They can help track accounts and prepare referrals.

B. National Bureau of Investigation – Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD)

Often handles bigger or cross-border cases too.
Can subpoena data and coordinate with platforms.

C. Office of the Prosecutor (City/Provincial)

You ultimately file a criminal complaint affidavit here.
Prosecutors determine probable cause.

D. National Privacy Commission (NPC)

For Data Privacy Act violations.
Can run parallel to criminal cases.

E. Barangay or Local VAW Desk (VAWC cases)

For women victims under RA 9262, you can seek immediate protection orders.

7. Step-by-step: How to file a cyberbullying case

Step 1: Prepare your documents

Bring:

Government ID
Printed screenshots/recordings/links
A written timeline
Names of witnesses
If VAWC: proof of relationship (messages, photos, child’s birth certificate, etc.)

Step 2: Make a complaint affidavit

This is your sworn statement. It should include:

Who you are and who the respondent is (or “John/Jane Doe” if unknown)
Facts in chronological order
Exact words of threats or defamatory statements
How you found out about the fake account/post
Specific harm suffered (fear, job loss, humiliation, health impact)
Attached evidence labeled as annexes

PNP-ACG or NBI can help draft, but you can also prepare with a lawyer.

Step 3: File with PNP-ACG/NBI for investigation

They will:

Take your sworn statement
Validate evidence
Possibly conduct cyber-forensics
Help identify the person behind the account
Prepare a referral for the prosecutor

Step 4: File the case with the Prosecutor’s Office

You’ll submit:

Complaint affidavit
Evidence annexes
Investigating agency referral (if already done)

Step 5: Preliminary investigation

Prosecutor sends the complaint to the respondent for a counter-affidavit
You may reply
Prosecutor decides probable cause.

Step 6: Court filing and trial (if probable cause)

If approved, an Information is filed in court
Case proceeds to arraignment, hearings, and decision.

8. What if you don’t know who’s behind the account?

You can still file against “John/Jane Doe.” Investigators can request data from:

Internet providers
Platforms (Facebook, TikTok, X, etc.)
Device/network traces

Expect this to take time. Some accounts are harder to trace if:

They used VPNs
They’re abroad
The platform’s data retention is limited

But filing early improves chances.

9. Deadlines (prescription periods) you should know

Deadlines depend on the specific crime. As a practical rule:

File as soon as possible.
Delays weaken evidence (posts vanish, accounts get deleted, data ages out).

For cyber libel, courts have treated it differently over time, so do not wait on assumptions about longer windows.

10. Possible outcomes and remedies

Criminal cases

Penalties can include imprisonment and fines (depending on charge).
Court may order restitution in some cases.

Civil damages

Even if criminal case is ongoing or dismissed, you can sue for:

Moral damages
Exemplary damages
Actual damages (lost income, medical bills)

Protection orders (especially VAWC)

Barangay Protection Order (BPO)
Temporary Protection Order (TPO)
Permanent Protection Order (PPO)

These can force no-contact rules and help stop harassment quickly.

Platform removals

Independent of court action, platforms may:

Take down posts
Remove fake accounts
Restrict the offender

11. Common pitfalls that can hurt your case

Incomplete screenshots (no username/date/context)
Editing or provoking the offender publicly
Relying on hearsay without preserving original posts
Posting your evidence online first (can create counter-claims)
Waiting too long to report
Assuming “fake name = safe” for offenders
Not labeling annexes clearly in affidavits

12. Tips for writing a strong complaint affidavit

Use simple, chronological narration.
Quote threats/defamatory lines exactly.
Attach evidence with labels:
- Annex “A” – Screenshot of fake account profile
- Annex “B” – Threat message dated…
Explain why it is false or threatening, not just that it “hurt you.”
State the harm clearly:
- fear for safety
- emotional distress
- impact on work/school/family
End with a clear request: to charge under specific laws (if known).

13. Special notes for minors and school settings

If the victim is a student:

Schools are required to act under child protection and anti-bullying policies.
You may:
1. Report to school Child Protection Committee
2. File with PNP/NBI if criminal
3. Seek help from DSWD or local social welfare

Online abuse involving minors is treated more strictly by law.

14. If you’re being threatened right now

Treat credible threats as emergencies:

Go to the nearest police station or call emergency services.
Show the threats live on your phone.
Ask for a blotter report; it supports later filing.
If you fear immediate harm, request protective help.

15. Bottom line

In the Philippines, fake social media accounts and online threats are legally actionable. The core playbook is:

Preserve evidence early and completely
Report to PNP-ACG or NBI-CCD
File a complaint affidavit with the Prosecutor
Pursue protection orders or privacy remedies when applicable
Stay safe and avoid escalation online

If you want, I can draft a sample complaint affidavit structure you can fill in with your facts, or a checklist tailored to your situation.