Laws and Remedies Against Online Harassment and Cyberbullying in the Philippines

Introduction

Online harassment and cyberbullying have become pervasive problems in the Philippines, a country with one of the highest social media penetration rates in the world and among the longest daily internet usage hours globally. The anonymity of the internet, the speed of information dissemination, and the permanence of digital content have amplified the harm caused by malicious online behavior. Victims suffer psychological trauma, reputational damage, economic loss, and in extreme cases, suicide.

The Philippines has responded with a robust, though sometimes overlapping, legal framework that combines special cybercrime legislation, amendments to the Revised Penal Code, gender-sensitive laws, child protection statutes, and workplace/public space regulations. This article comprehensively discusses the applicable laws, punishable acts, penalties, remedies, procedural aspects, and landmark jurisprudence as of December 2025.

Definitions

Philippine laws do not use a single statutory definition of “cyberbullying” or “online harassment,” but the elements are scattered across statutes:

• Cyberbullying (RA 10627): Any bullying conducted through electronic means, including social media, texting, email, or online gaming platforms. Bullying itself is defined as any severe or repeated act intended to cause physical or psychological harm, including threats, intimidation, humiliation, or social exclusion.

• Online Harassment: Generally covers unwanted, repeated, or threatening online conduct. It overlaps with cyberlibel, unjust vexation, threats, grave coercion, and gender-based online sexual harassment.

• Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment (RA 11313, Safe Spaces Act): Acts committed through ICT (information and communication technology) such as lewd photos, messages, videos, calls, or persistent unwanted sexual advances that threaten, humiliate, or intimidate.

Primary Laws and Punishable Acts

1. Republic Act No. 10175 – Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (as amended by RA 11459 in 2022)

This remains the cornerstone law for online offenses.

Punishable acts relevant to harassment/cyberbullying:

• Cyberlibel (Sec. 4(c)(4) in relation to Art. 353-355, Revised Penal Code)
  The publication of false statements online that damage a person’s reputation. One single act of posting constitutes one count of cyberlibel, even if read by millions. The author is liable, and in some cases, commenters or sharers may be liable if malice is proven.

  Penalty: Prisión mayor (6 years and 1 day to 12 years) plus fine. Higher than traditional libel because the Supreme Court upheld the one-degree-higher penalty rule for online libel (Disini v. Secretary of Justice, G.R. No. 203335, February 11, 2014, as clarified in subsequent cases).

• Computer-related offenses (Sec. 4(a)):

  • Computer-related forgery
  • Computer-related fraud
  • Computer-related identity theft (impersonation, catfishing)

• Content-related offenses:

  • Child pornography (Sec. 4(c)(2))
  • Cybersex and online sexual exploitation (Sec. 4(c)(1) & (3))

The law also authorizes real-time collection of traffic data and preservation orders, making investigation easier.

2. Republic Act No. 11313 – Safe Spaces Act (“Bawal Bastos Law”) of 2019

This law explicitly covers online and digital spaces as “public spaces.”

Punishable acts:

• Catcalling, wolf-whistling, misogynistic or homophobic slurs online
• Persistent unwanted sexual messages or advances
• Sharing or threatening to share private sexual photos/videos without consent
• Online stalking, doxing when gender-based
• Transmitting sexually explicit content without consent

Penalties:

• Acts committed online: Arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6 months) and fine of ₱10,000–₱300,000 depending on gravity
• Qualified (repeated, by person in authority, against minor, etc.): Prisión correccional (6 months and 1 day to 6 years)

Implementing agency: Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), PNP, and local government units.

3. Republic Act No. 10627 – Anti-Bullying Act of 2013

Applies primarily to elementary and secondary schools (public and private).

• Requires all schools to adopt anti-bullying policies that explicitly cover cyberbullying
• Cyberbullying includes posting hurtful messages, spreading rumors online, creating fake profiles, or excluding someone from online groups to cause harm
• Schools must investigate within 10 days and may impose disciplinary measures
• Criminal liability may attach if the act constitutes cyberlibel, threats, or violation of RA 10175

Note: The law’s coverage is limited to students; bullying by teachers or outside school hours may fall under other laws.

4. Republic Act No. 9262 – Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004

Online psychological violence or economic abuse against women or children in dating/intimate relationships qualifies.

Examples:

• Repeated online humiliation or threats
• Controlling a partner’s social media
• Posting intimate photos without consent (revenge porn)

Remedy: Immediate issuance of Barangay Protection Order (BPO), Temporary Protection Order (TPO), or Permanent Protection Order (PPO) with criminal penalties of prisión mayor.

5. Republic Act No. 9995 – Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009

Criminalizes taking, sharing, or publishing photos/videos of sexual acts or private parts without consent (“revenge porn”).

Penalty: Prisión correccional (6 months and 1 day to 6 years) and fine of ₱100,000–₱500,000.

Often charged together with RA 10175 or RA 11313.

6. Republic Act No. 11930 – Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (Anti-OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (Anti-CSAEM) Act of 2022

Greatly strengthened penalties for grooming, sextortion, live-streamed abuse, and possession/distribution of CSAEM.

• Grooming a child online for sexual purposes is punishable by reclusion temporal (12–20 years)
• Internet intermediaries (social media platforms, ISPs) are mandated to remove reported CSAEM within 24 hours and preserve evidence

7. Revised Penal Code Provisions (Applied Online via RA 10175)

• Unjust vexation (Art. 287): Annoying or harassing messages that do not rise to threats or libel
• Grave threats / Light threats (Arts. 282, 283)
• Grave coercion (Art. 286)
• Alarms and scandals (Art. 155)

These are frequently used when cyberlibel or Safe Spaces Act charges are not applicable.

Civil Remedies and Damages

Victims may file independent civil actions or reserve them in criminal cases:

• Moral damages (₱100,000–₱1,000,000+ depending on severity)
• Exemplary damages
• Actual damages (therapy costs, lost income)
• Attorney’s fees

Landmark awards: In some cyberlibel cases, damages have reached ₱10–15 million (e.g., against high-profile personalities).

Protection Orders Available

1. Barangay Protection Order (RA 9262 & Safe Spaces Act) – immediate, valid 15 days
2. Temporary/Permanent Protection Order (family court or RTC) – can order perpetrator to stay away online and offline
3. Take-down orders from DOJ or courts against platforms

Reporting and Investigation Procedures

1. Report to barangay (for BPO)
2. File blotter with PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) or Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC)
3. File complaint-affidavit with City/Provincial Prosecutor
4. NBI Cybercrime Division for complex cases
5. Report to platform (Facebook, TikTok, X) – Philippine platforms comply quickly due to RA 10175 obligations
6. Hotline: PNP-ACG (723-0401 loc. 7491) or #888 (VAWC)

Internet service providers and social media companies are required under RA 10175 and RA 11930 to preserve data upon request.

Landmark Supreme Court Decisions

• Disini v. Secretary of Justice (G.R. No. 203335, Feb. 11, 2014)
  Upheld constitutionality of online libel but struck down Sec. 5 (punishing aiding/abetting online crimes) as applied to “liking” or “sharing” libelous posts.

• A.M. No. 08-1-16-SC (Rule on Cybercrime Warrants)
  Established procedural safeguards for search and seizure of electronic evidence.

• Vivares v. St. Theresa’s College (G.R. No. 202666, Sept. 29, 2014)
  Privacy of private Facebook posts is protected; school overreached by punishing students for bikini photos.

• Recent decisions (2023–2025) have consistently upheld convictions for online sexual harassment under the Safe Spaces Act and revenge porn under RA 9995.

Practical Tips for Victims

1. Screenshot everything with timestamps
2. Do not delete the original posts (preserves evidence)
3. Block and report immediately
4. Seek psychological support (DOH, DSWD, NGOs like Gabriela, LoveYourself)
5. File quickly – prescription period for cyberlibel is 12 years (Act No. 3326 as amended by RA 11479 in 2020)

Conclusion

The Philippines has one of the most comprehensive legal arsenals in Southeast Asia against online harassment and cyberbullying. While enforcement challenges remain—particularly in identifying anonymous perpetrators—the combination of criminal sanctions, civil damages, protection orders, and mandatory platform cooperation has resulted in thousands of successful prosecutions and takedowns annually.

Victims are no longer powerless. The law recognizes the unique harm of online abuse and provides swift, multi-layered remedies. Awareness, prompt reporting, and continued legislative strengthening will further reduce the incidence and impact of these digital crimes.