I. Introduction

Unwanted texts, repeated late-night calls, and abusive emails are not just annoying—they can be frightening, disruptive, and traumatic. In the Philippines, these behaviors can have legal consequences, especially when they cross the line into harassment, threats, or abuse.

This article explains, in the Philippine context:

What kinds of text, call, and email behavior may be punishable by law
The criminal, civil, and administrative remedies available
Which laws apply in different situations (stalkers, ex-partners, debt collectors, scammers, workplace harassment, gender-based harassment, etc.)
Practical steps to protect yourself: blocking, reporting, filing complaints, and preserving evidence

It is a general guide, not a substitute for advice from a Philippine lawyer who can assess a specific situation.

II. What Counts as Harassment in Digital Communications?

There is no single, catch-all “Anti-Harassment via Text and Call Act” in the Philippines. Instead, harassment is addressed through a combination of laws. The same behavior may fall under different provisions depending on:

Content (insults, threats, obscene words, sexual messages, scams)
Pattern (single message vs. repeated, persistent contact)
Relationship (stranger, ex-partner, spouse, boss, teacher, creditor)
Victim (woman, child, employee, student, LGBTQ+, etc.)

Common patterns that can be actionable:

Repeated unwanted contact
- Dozens of calls or messages per day despite clear refusal
- Late-night “spam” or stalking-type chatter
Threats and intimidation
- Threats to hurt you or your family
- Threats to expose photos, secrets, or private info (“sextortion”)
Sexual harassment
- Unwanted sexual advances, sex-related comments, or images
- “Send nudes” demands, explicit photos, or voice messages
Defamation or shaming
- False accusations sent to you or copied to others
- Mass emailing or group chats to humiliate you
Scams and fraud
- Messages to trick you into giving money or account details
- Fake banking or “OTP” phishing messages
Unsolicited marketing & spam
- Repeated promotional messages without consent, especially when linked to misuse of your personal data

III. Key Criminal Law Remedies

1. Revised Penal Code (RPC)

Several crimes under the Revised Penal Code can apply to text/call/email harassment, especially when combined with the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Grave Threats / Light Threats
- If someone threatens to kill, injure, or commit a crime against you through text or call, it may be grave threats (Art. 282) or other light threats (Art. 283).
- The gravity depends on the seriousness of the threat and whether there’s a condition attached (e.g., “Pay me or I’ll expose your photos”).
Unjust Vexation
- Harassing, annoying, or humiliating acts that don’t fit neatly into another crime can fall under unjust vexation.
- Persistent unwanted messages or calls meant to disturb your peace, even without threats, can be charged under this.
Libel and Slander
- Libel (Art. 353, RPC) covers false and malicious statements that damage a person’s reputation, when made publicly or in writing, including via email or social media.
- Spoken insults in voice calls may lead to slander (oral defamation).

Under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, libel and some other crimes (like threats or identity-related fraud) can be charged as cybercrimes when committed using a computer system or similar device (which generally includes many forms of online messaging and email). Penalties may be higher.

2. Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175)

RA 10175 does two big things relevant here:

It creates new cybercrimes, such as:
- Cyber libel – libel committed online
- Illegal access, data interference, system interference (relevant for hacking or account takeovers)
It “upgrades” traditional crimes when committed via ICT:
- Threats, fraud, identity theft, libel, etc., committed by means of a computer system can be prosecuted as cybercrimes with higher penalties.

If harassment is taking place via:

Email
Social media DMs
Messaging apps (Messenger, Viber, Telegram, etc.)
Other online platforms

it will often fall under RA 10175 in combination with the RPC or other special laws.

3. Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) – RA 9262

If the harassment is done by:

A current or former husband/partner,
Someone you have or had a sexual or dating relationship with, or
The father of your child,

and you are a woman or a child, it may be covered by RA 9262 (VAWC).

VAWC includes psychological violence, which can consist of:

Repeated threatening, insulting, or demeaning messages
Monitoring your calls/texts/emails, controlling who you communicate with
Humiliating you in group chats, email threads, or social media
Harassing you relentlessly via phone/email

Why this law is powerful:

It allows you to ask the court for a Protection Order (TPO/PPO/Permanent PO), which may:
- Prohibit the abuser from contacting you by any means (text, call, email, messaging apps)
- Direct him to stay away from your home/work/school
- Include support, custody, and other reliefs

You may report to the barangay, PNP (often Women and Children Protection Desks), or directly file a complaint in court through a lawyer or with help from a public attorney or legal aid group.

4. Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313)

The Safe Spaces Act (also called the “Bawal Bastos Law”) covers gender-based sexual harassment, including online and digital forms.

Online gender-based sexual harassment includes:

Uninvited sexual remarks, requests, or jokes sent via text or email
Non-consensual sending of sexual photos or videos
Threats to share private or intimate content
Stalking behavior through online messaging

It applies whether or not the harasser is your boss, friend, stranger, or someone else, and protects all genders, though many provisions are geared toward protecting women and LGBTQ+ persons.

Penalties can be fines, imprisonment, and community service, with harsher penalties for repeated offenses or if committed by someone in a position of authority or trust.

5. Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism (RA 9995) & Related Laws

If harassment involves nude or sexually explicit images or videos, especially those taken or shared without consent, several laws may apply:

RA 9995 – prohibits taking, copying, distributing, or publishing photo/video of a person’s private parts or sexual act without consent, including online sharing or threats of sharing.
RA 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography) – covers any sexual content involving minors, whether sent, received, or possessed.
RA 7610 – provides special protection for children who are abused or exploited, including online.

Threatening to release intimate images (“sextortion”) can trigger multiple criminal charges—threats, VAWC (if relationship-based), cybercrime, and voyeurism.

IV. Data Privacy & Spam / Marketing Messages

1. Data Privacy Act (RA 10173)

If your phone number or email is being used for unsolicited marketing or spam, especially when:

You never consented to such use; or
Your data was obviously obtained from a leaked list, directory, or unauthorized source

the Data Privacy Act may come into play.

Possible violations:

Unauthorized processing of your personal data
Processing incompatible with the original purpose for which your data was collected
Not honoring your request to opt out or stop processing

You may:

Contact the company or sender and explicitly revoke consent and demand that they stop contacting you.
File a complaint with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) if your data is being misused or shared without consent.

NPC can conduct investigations, require compliance, and impose administrative sanctions.

2. Telco Regulations & NTC

Some unsolicited texts and calls, especially mass marketing messages, are regulated by:

Telco internal policies (Globe, Smart, DITO, etc.)
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) rules on spam, spoofing, and malicious communications

You may:

Report specific numbers and messages to your telecom provider for blocking and investigation
File a complaint with the NTC for persistent unsolicited commercial communications or scam calls

3. SIM Registration Act (RA 11934)

The SIM Registration Act requires SIM users to register their SIM cards with valid identification. This aims to curb:

Anonymous scam texts
Fraudulent and harassing communications

While harassment is still possible (e.g., via foreign numbers, unregistered SIMs, or VoIP), this law makes it easier for law enforcement to trace and track offenders for prosecution.

V. Workplace & School Harassment via Text/Email

1. Workplace

Text, call, or email harassment from a boss, coworker, client, or supplier may trigger:

Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (RA 7877) – for harassment by those in authority, moral ascendancy, or influence
Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313) – covers workplace-based gender harassment, including through messaging apps and email
Company’s Code of Conduct or internal policies

Typical remedies:

Report to HR, the Grievance Committee, or the company’s Safe Spaces Committee (if established)
Internal investigations may lead to disciplinary sanctions (warnings, suspension, dismissal)
Separate criminal complaints may be filed if the behavior also violates criminal laws

2. School

In schools, harassment via group chats, email, or text can fall under:

Anti-Bullying policies (for basic education institutions)
Anti-sexual harassment and Safe Spaces policies in universities and colleges
Child protection laws if minors are involved

Students can report to:

Guidance counselors or student affairs offices
School administrators or the Safe Spaces / Anti-Bullying Committee

Sanctions may include reprimand, suspension, or expulsion, alongside possible criminal or civil actions.

VI. Civil Remedies: Damages & Injunctions

Aside from criminal cases, a victim may file civil actions under the Civil Code for:

Damages
- For mental anguish, sleepless nights, fear, anxiety, or loss of reputation, you may claim moral damages, exemplary damages, and other forms of compensation.
Injunctions
- In some cases, you may ask a court for an order (injunction) to compel the offender to stop contacting you or to do or refrain from specific acts.
Breach of privacy and personality rights
- The Civil Code and jurisprudence recognize rights to privacy, honor, name, and image. Unauthorized disclosure of private communications or images can be a basis for civil liability.

Civil cases are usually filed with the assistance of a lawyer and proceed separately from criminal cases, though they may be joined or arise from the same set of facts.

VII. Evidence: How to Properly Document Harassment

Even if you feel like deleting everything out of disgust or fear, resist the urge. Evidence is crucial.

Key steps:

Keep screenshots and logs
- Take clear screenshots of texts, messages, emails, caller IDs
- Capture dates, times, and phone numbers/email addresses
Preserve original files
- For emails, keep them in your inbox; do not just rely on screenshots.
- For social media messages, avoid deleting threads; archive instead, if possible.
Back up to secure storage
- Save copies to a secure drive or cloud account under your control.
Get certified records when possible
- Telco providers can, upon lawful request (often via law enforcement or court), provide call and SMS logs.
- For emails, your IT department (in workplaces) or email provider can help verify logs.
Avoid tampering
- Do not edit images or forward messages in a way that could alter timestamps or contents.
- When sending evidence to authorities, keep original copies whenever possible.
Witnesses
- If others have seen or received the same harassing messages (e.g., group emails or chats), they can serve as witnesses.

VIII. Where and How to File Complaints

Depending on the nature of the harassment, you may approach:

1. Barangay

For certain offenses, disputes can be brought to the Lupong Tagapamayapa for mediation.
For RA 9262 (VAWC), you may ask for Barangay Protection Orders (BPO) against an intimate partner.

2. Philippine National Police (PNP)

PNP-Cybercrime Group for online/cyber harassment, scams, and threats.
Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPD) for cases involving women and children, especially VAWC and sexual harassment.

You will usually be asked to provide:

A detailed narration of what happened (timeline, context)
Copies of screenshots, emails, call logs
Identification and contact details

3. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

The NBI Cybercrime Division can investigate more complex or large-scale cyber harassment, fraud, or extortion.

4. Prosecutor’s Office

For criminal charges, a complaint-affidavit is usually filed with the Office of the City/Provincial Prosecutor, accompanied by:

Documentary evidence (screenshots, printouts)
A statement explaining why the actions constitute specific crimes
Witness affidavits, where applicable

The prosecutor will then conduct preliminary investigation to determine whether there is probable cause to file the case in court.

5. National Privacy Commission (NPC)

For persistent marketing-related harassment or misuse of personal data:

File a complaint or inquiry with the NPC, laying out how your data is being misused and the steps you took to stop it.

6. National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)

For spam, scams, and abusive calls/texts from identifiable numbers or short codes:

File complaints with the NTC, which can coordinate with telcos and law enforcement.

IX. Practical Defensive Steps (Before or Alongside Legal Action)

Law is powerful, but you don’t have to wait for a court decision to start protecting yourself. You can combine technical, practical, and legal strategies.

Block the number/email account
- Use your phone’s settings and your messaging/email app’s blocking features.
- Note the date you blocked the number, in case it’s relevant later.
Report and filter
- Mark emails as spam/phishing.
- Report harassing accounts on social platforms so they can be suspended.
Limit exposure of your contact details
- Be cautious about sharing your number/email on public websites or social media.
- Review and tighten privacy settings on apps and social networks.
Change contact details (if necessary)
- In extreme cases, consider changing your primary number or email, while keeping the old one accessible for evidence only.
Tell trusted people
- Inform family, friends, or colleagues, especially if the harasser is someone known to your circle.
- This also creates a support system and potential witnesses.
Seek emotional and psychological support
- Repeated harassment can be emotionally damaging. Counseling or therapy may be necessary, particularly for children or victims of intimate partner abuse.

X. Common Situations and Which Laws May Apply

Here’s a simplified mapping of common scenarios to possible legal bases:

Ex-partner sending hundreds of angry texts a day, with threats
- RA 9262 (VAWC) – if you’re a woman and he is/was your partner
- Grave threats / unjust vexation (RPC)
- Cybercrime (if via online messaging platforms)
Stranger sending obscene messages and sexual propositions
- Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313) – online gender-based sexual harassment
- Unjust vexation, possibly other RPC provisions
- Cybercrime, if committed online
Someone threatening to leak your intimate photos unless you pay
- Grave threats / extortion
- RA 9995 (Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism)
- Cybercrime (use of digital platform)
Debt collector calling and texting at all hours, shaming you to your contacts
- Possible unjust vexation, grave coercion, threats
- Possible data privacy violations if they misuse your and your contacts’ data
- Possible workplace harassment if they contact your office and harass colleagues
Persistent spam texts from marketers
- Data Privacy Act (RA 10173) – if data used without consent
- Telco/NTC rules on spam
- Administrative rather than criminal most of the time
Boss sending suggestive messages late at night
- RA 7877 (workplace sexual harassment)
- Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313) – gender-based workplace harassment
- Possible criminal liability under some instances

XI. Limits, Challenges, and Realities

While laws exist, enforcement can be:

Slow – investigations, preliminary investigations, and trials take time.
Evidence-dependent – cases often hinge on the quality and completeness of digital evidence.
Technically complex – offenders may use fake accounts, VPNs, foreign SIMs, or burner phones.

This is why:

Early documentation and reporting matter.
Combining practical defense (blocking, privacy controls) with legal remedies is often the most effective strategy.
Seeking legal counsel is important if the harassment is severe, prolonged, or tied to larger issues (abuse, extortion, blackmail, or child involvement).

XII. Conclusion

Stopping text, call, and email harassment under Philippine law involves more than just pressing the block button. It draws on a network of legal protections:

The Revised Penal Code for threats, unjust vexation, defamation, and fraud
Cybercrime law for online and ICT-based offenses
VAWC, Safe Spaces, and sexual harassment laws for gender-based and relationship-based abuse
Data privacy and telco regulations for spam and misuse of your contact details
Civil law remedies for damages and injunctions

Victims are not powerless. By preserving evidence, understanding the applicable laws, and using both practical and legal tools, you can fight back against digital harassment and reclaim your peace of mind.

For specific cases, it is always wise to consult a Philippine lawyer or seek help from government agencies and legal aid groups so that the strategy fits the exact behavior, relationship, and risks involved.