1) Start with the hard truth: flirting isn’t automatically illegal

A partner’s online flirting—likes, flirty comments, DMs, “reacts,” late-night chats—may be painful and disrespectful, but it is not automatically a crime. In Philippine law, legal exposure usually begins when the conduct crosses into harassment, threats, coercion, stalking-like persistence, defamation, non-consensual sharing of intimate material, identity misuse, or “psychological violence” (in qualifying relationships).

So the legal question is rarely “Is flirting illegal?” and more often:

Is someone being harassed (repeated, unwanted, alarming conduct)?
Is there a threat (to harm, to expose, to ruin)?
Is there coercion or control (to force you to act or stop acting)?
Is there sexual harassment (including online)?
Is private sexual content being used as leverage or circulated?
Is the behavior part of violence/abuse within an intimate relationship?

Your options depend on who is doing what (your partner, the person they’re flirting with, or both), what was said, how often, and your relationship status (spouse, ex-spouse, live-in, dating relationship, shared child, etc.).

2) Common online patterns that trigger legal remedies

A. Persistent unwanted messaging

Repeated DMs, comments, tags, calls, fake accounts, “just checking,” “why are you ignoring me,” or messaging your friends/employer to get to you.

B. Threats and intimidation

Threats to:

harm you, your child, your family, your pets
leak screenshots, private photos, intimate videos
accuse you publicly
report you falsely
destroy your reputation or livelihood

C. Humiliation, shaming, and reputational attacks

Public posts implying you’re immoral, cheating, crazy, a scammer, or unfit as a parent; posting private conversations; encouraging pile-ons.

D. Non-consensual sexual content (“revenge porn” conduct)

Sharing, selling, uploading, or even threatening to share intimate images/videos without consent.

E. Doxxing and privacy invasion

Posting your address, workplace, phone number; encouraging others to contact you; tracking your location.

F. Sexual harassment online

Lewd comments, sexual demands, unwanted sexual messages, coercive sexual “jokes,” persistent sexual advances, or sexually humiliating content directed at you.

G. Abuse wrapped as “relationship conflict”

Control, monitoring, demanding passwords, isolating you socially, forcing you to delete accounts, coercing you to stay—especially when accompanied by fear, intimidation, or emotional harm.

3) Criminal law options (Philippines)

3.1 Online sexual harassment: Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313)

The Safe Spaces Act covers gender-based sexual harassment in streets/public spaces, workplaces, schools, and online spaces. Online sexual harassment generally includes:

unwanted sexual remarks/messages
sexual advances
persistent sexual attention
sexually humiliating or objectifying content directed at a person
other acts that create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive online environment

Who can be liable: the person sending the harassing sexual content (could be your partner, the third party, or anyone).

Use this when: the content is sexual in nature and unwanted, especially when repeated, coercive, humiliating, or threatening.

3.2 Violence against Women and Their Children: Psychological violence and protection orders (RA 9262)

If the victim is a woman (and/or her child) and the offender is:

a current or former spouse, or
a current or former boyfriend/live-in partner, or
someone with whom she has (or had) a dating relationship, or
someone with whom she has a common child,

then RA 9262 may apply.

RA 9262 is powerful because it addresses psychological violence—acts or omissions that cause mental or emotional suffering, including intimidation, harassment, stalking-like behavior, public ridicule, and other abusive conduct. Online behavior can qualify when it’s part of a pattern of abuse and results in fear, distress, humiliation, or emotional harm.

Important nuance: “Infidelity” alone is not automatically a RA 9262 crime. But online conduct tied to humiliation, intimidation, manipulation, threats, or emotional cruelty may support a psychological violence case—especially when it’s persistent and causes demonstrable distress.

Why RA 9262 matters: it provides Protection Orders (see Section 5 below) that can quickly restrict contact and impose distance/contact rules, including online contact.

3.3 Threats: Revised Penal Code

If someone threatens you, criminal provisions may apply depending on severity and conditions. Threats can be criminal even without physical contact.

Use this when messages say (or strongly imply) things like:

“I will hurt you / your child / your family”
“I will kill you”
“I will ruin your life / make you lose your job”
“I will publish your nudes unless you do X”
“Wait until you see what happens”

Threat cases often hinge on:

the specificity of the threat
whether it’s conditioned on you doing/not doing something
the credibility/context (history of violence, capability, repetition)

3.4 Coercion and similar “pressure” crimes: Revised Penal Code

If someone uses threats, intimidation, or force to make you do something you don’t want (or stop you from doing something you have the right to do)—e.g., forcing you to delete accounts, withdraw complaints, quit a job, reconcile, or meet them—coercion-type theories may apply.

3.5 Defamation: Libel/Slander (and online posting)

If someone publishes accusations or humiliating claims that identify you (explicitly or implicitly), defamation laws may be implicated. Online posts can aggravate the harm because of reach, permanence, and replication.

Caution: Defamation cases are technical, fact-sensitive, and can escalate conflict. Truth, privileged communications, and absence of malice can be defenses depending on context.

3.6 Non-consensual intimate images: Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act (RA 9995)

RA 9995 targets recording, sharing, and distributing intimate images/videos without consent. In many real cases, the strongest leverage is not the “flirting” but the use (or threat) of sexual content.

Use this when:

intimate images/videos were shared or uploaded without consent
someone threatens to share them
someone recorded intimate acts without consent or shared recordings beyond consent

3.7 Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175): “cyber” versions of offenses

RA 10175 strengthens enforcement for certain crimes committed through ICT (computers, phones, internet). In practice, it’s often invoked to address online execution of offenses such as libel and related wrongdoing. It can also support investigative processes involving digital evidence and service providers.

3.8 Data Privacy Act (RA 10173): misuse of personal information

If someone collects, discloses, or processes your personal data without legal basis—especially sensitive personal information—there may be Data Privacy implications. Common triggers include:

doxxing (address/phone/workplace)
unauthorized sharing of IDs, private documents, medical/mental health info
malicious dissemination that causes harm

4) Civil law options: money damages and court orders

Even when prosecutors decline a criminal case, civil remedies may still be viable.

4.1 Civil Code: abuse of rights and moral damages

Philippine civil law recognizes liability for:

willful acts that cause damage
abuse of rights
acts contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy that cause injury

Online harassment and humiliation often support claims for moral damages (emotional suffering) and, in proper cases, exemplary damages.

4.2 Injunction concepts

Depending on circumstances and the court’s assessment, civil actions may seek orders to stop particular acts—though in domestic-abuse contexts, Protection Orders (RA 9262) are usually the faster, more tailored tool.

5) Protective remedies: keeping distance, stopping contact, and stabilizing safety

When harassment or threats are present, the practical goal is usually not punishment first, but safety and stoppage.

5.1 Protection Orders under RA 9262 (for qualified relationships)

If RA 9262 applies, you can seek:

Barangay Protection Order (BPO) – typically aimed at immediate protection and prohibiting further acts of violence/harassment; handled at the barangay level.
Temporary Protection Order (TPO) – issued by the court for interim protection.
Permanent Protection Order (PPO) – longer-term court protection after hearing.

Protection orders can include terms like:

no contact (including online contact)
stay-away distances
removal from residence (in appropriate cases)
custody-related provisions (case-specific)
prohibition on harassment through third parties
other tailored restraints to prevent psychological or physical harm

5.2 Immediate law enforcement routes (practical reality)

If there are credible threats, stalking-like persistence, or imminent risk:

report to PNP (often the Women and Children Protection Desk is most experienced with RA 9262 matters)
report to relevant cybercrime units (PNP or NBI channels depending on locality and case)

6) Evidence: what makes or breaks these cases

Online cases are won or lost on proof. The most useful evidence is usually:

6.1 Preserve content immediately

screenshots that include username, profile link, date/time
screen recordings that show navigation (profile → message → threat)
URLs of posts/comments
copies of images/videos shared
chat exports where possible

6.2 Capture context, not just the worst line

A single message can be argued as a joke or out of context. Patterns show intent:

repeated contact after you said stop
escalation to threats
contacting your employer/family
creating new accounts after blocking

6.3 Keep a chronology

A simple timeline helps prosecutors/judges:

date/time
platform
what happened
how you responded (e.g., “told them to stop,” “blocked,” “reported”)
witnesses (friends who received messages, coworkers who saw posts)

6.4 Avoid “evidence contamination”

Don’t edit screenshots.
Keep originals and backups.
Don’t provoke or bait for stronger statements; it can backfire and complicate credibility.

7) Practical “which law fits?” mapping

Scenario 1: Partner flirts; no harassment, no threats, no humiliation

Likely legal outcome: Minimal criminal traction. Focus may be relationship remedies (counseling, boundaries), not court.

Scenario 2: Third party harasses you sexually in DMs/comments

Likely fit: Safe Spaces Act (online sexual harassment), plus possible related offenses depending on threats/privacy violations.

Scenario 3: Partner or third party threatens to leak intimate photos/videos

Likely fit: RA 9995, threats/extortion-like dynamics, plus protective orders if RA 9262 applies.

Scenario 4: Partner repeatedly messages, monitors, intimidates, humiliates, uses fake accounts

Likely fit: RA 9262 psychological violence (if qualified relationship and victim is a woman), plus threat/coercion theories depending on content.

Scenario 5: Public posts accuse you of wrongdoing, call you names, or imply scandal

Likely fit: Defamation (fact-sensitive), civil damages, privacy/data protection depending on disclosures.

Scenario 6: They post your address/phone and incite others

Likely fit: Data Privacy implications, threat/harassment framing, and strong grounds for protective relief if within RA 9262 coverage.

8) Procedure in real life: what typically happens

8.1 Platform-level actions (not legal, but impactful)

report the account/posts
request takedowns
tighten privacy settings
preserve evidence before removal

8.2 Barangay vs prosecutor vs court

Barangay: sometimes useful for community-level disputes, but often inadequate for serious threats or online sexual harassment.
Prosecutor: criminal complaint process typically requires a sworn complaint-affidavit and attachments.
Court (Protection Orders): the most practical path for immediate safety in RA 9262 situations.

8.3 Expect defenses

Common pushbacks include:

“It was a joke.”
“I didn’t mean it.”
“That’s not my account.”
“She/he started it.”
“It’s freedom of speech.”
“It’s true” (in defamation contexts) Good evidence and context usually determine whether these defenses stick.

9) Safety planning and risk realities (legal strategy depends on danger level)

If threats suggest imminent harm, legal steps should be paired with safety measures:

inform trusted people
vary routines if being watched
document escalation
avoid meeting alone to “talk it out” when threats exist
consider child safety implications if relevant

Courts and investigators react more decisively when risk is concrete: explicit threats, prior violence, weapons references, doxxing, stalking-like persistence, and contact through multiple channels after blocking.

10) Key takeaways

Flirting alone is usually not prosecutable; harassment, threats, coercion, sexual harassment, privacy violations, and abuse patterns are where legal remedies activate.
The Safe Spaces Act is central when the conduct is sexual and unwanted in online spaces.
RA 9262 can be the most powerful tool when it applies, because it covers psychological violence and provides Protection Orders that can quickly stop contact.
Threats, coercion-type conduct, defamation, voyeurism-related offenses, and data privacy violations may apply depending on what was said/done.
Evidence is decisive: preserve, contextualize, and organize.