The Philippines has a comprehensive legal framework that criminalizes harassment and threats in their various forms — physical, verbal, psychological, sexual, and online. These protections are scattered across the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815), special penal laws, and civil remedies, with particular emphasis on protecting women, children, and vulnerable sectors. This article consolidates all relevant laws, penalties, elements of the offenses, prescriptive periods, and available remedies as of December 2025.
I. Revised Penal Code Provisions (Applicable to All Persons)
Grave Threats (Article 282, RPC)
- Punished when a person threatens another with the infliction of a wrong that amounts to a crime (murder, serious physical injuries, kidnapping, arson, etc.), and the threat is made:
(1) with the condition that the victim do or not do something, or
(2) without condition but under circumstances that cause fear. - Penalties:
– Prisión mayor (6 years and 1 day to 12 years) if the threat is unconditional or not subject to a condition.
– Prisión correccional (6 months and 1 day to 6 years) and fine if subject to a condition that is not unlawful.
– Arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6 months) if the threat is not subject to a condition and does not amount to grave threats. - Prescriptive period: 15 years.
- Punished when a person threatens another with the infliction of a wrong that amounts to a crime (murder, serious physical injuries, kidnapping, arson, etc.), and the threat is made:
Light Threats (Article 283, RPC)
- Threat to commit a wrong not constituting a crime (e.g., “I will slap you,” “I will expose your secrets,” “I will ruin your reputation”).
- Penalty: Arresto mayor (1 month and 1 day to 6 months).
- If in writing or through an intermediary: Arresto menor or fine.
- Prescriptive period: 10 years for the basic penalty.
Other Light Threats (Article 285, RPC)
- Specifically covers blackmail or threats to publish libelous matter or expose secrets.
- Penalty: Arresto mayor.
Grave Coercions (Article 286, RPC)
- Compelling another by violence or intimidation to do or not do something against his will.
- Penalty: Prisión correccional to prisión mayor (6 months to 6 years).
Light Coercions / Unjust Vexation (Article 287, RPC)
- Any coercion not falling under grave coercion, or any act that annoys, irritates, or vexes the victim without justifiable reason (includes persistent unwanted messages, following, catcalling, malicious staring).
- Penalty: Arresto menor (1 to 30 days) or fine up to ₱40,000.
- This is the most commonly used provision for general harassment and stalking-like behavior.
Oral Defamation / Grave or Light Slander (Article 358)
- Often charged together with threats when the harassment involves public humiliation.
II. Special Laws on Harassment and Threats
Republic Act No. 9262 – Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004
- Covers dating, live-in, and marital relationships, including former partners.
- “Violence” includes psychological violence, economic abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, stalking, and causing mental or emotional anguish.
- Repeated unwanted communication, surveillance, and threats are punishable.
- Penalties: Prisión mayor (6 years and 1 day to 12 years).
- Barangay Protection Order (BPO), Temporary Protection Order (TPO), and Permanent Protection Order (PPO) are available within 24 hours (BPO) or 72 hours (TPO).
- Violation of protection order is a separate crime punishable by prisión correccional.
Republic Act No. 11313 – Safe Spaces Act (Bastos Law) of 2018
- The most comprehensive law on gender-based sexual harassment (GBSH).
- Covers four major spheres:
a. Streets and public spaces (catcalling, wolf-whistling, persistent unwanted comments, flashing, groping, stalking).
b. Workplace (sexual favors for employment benefits, hostile environment).
c. Educational and training institutions (same as workplace plus peer-to-peer harassment).
d. Online (gender-based online sexual harassment: threats, unwanted sexual remarks, posting of sexual photos/videos without consent, doxxing with sexual intent). - Penalties:
– Minor offenses (catcalling, wolf-whistling): ₱1,000–₱10,000 fine and community service.
– Moderate: ₱10,000–₱100,000 and/or jail time.
– Serious (unwanted touching, lascivious acts): Prisión correccional (up to 6 years). - Employers and school heads are solidarily liable if they fail to act.
Republic Act No. 10175 – Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (as amended by jurisprudence)
- Cyberlibel (Section 4(c)(4))
- Online threats and intimidation
- Computer-related identity theft (used for harassment)
- Child pornography and cybersex
- Penalties: One degree higher than the base offense under the RPC.
- Supreme Court declared the online libel provision constitutional (Disini v. Secretary of Justice, 2014) but struck down the “take-down” clause and spontaneous commentary provision.
Republic Act No. 9995 – Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009
- Taking or publishing photos/videos of sexual acts or private areas without consent, especially for harassment purposes.
- Penalty: Prisión correccional to prisión mayor (up to 7 years) and fine ₱100,000–₱500,000.
Republic Act No. 10627 – Anti-Bullying Act of 2013
- Covers bullying in elementary and high schools, including cyberbullying.
- Schools are required to adopt anti-bullying policies; failure is punishable.
Republic Act No. 7610 – Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act
- Child abuse includes psychological violence and threats.
- Penalty: Reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua depending on severity.
Republic Act No. 9208 (as amended by RA 10364) – Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
- Threats used to coerce into prostitution or labor are punished severely.
III. Civil Remedies and Protection Orders
Protection Orders under RA 9262
- Barangay Protection Order (valid 15 days)
- Temporary Protection Order (valid until lifted)
- Permanent Protection Order (valid indefinitely)
- May include custody of children, support, eviction from residence, and 300-meter distance rule.
Civil Damages (Articles 19–36, Civil Code)
- Moral damages (₱50,000–₱1,000,000+ depending on severity)
- Exemplary damages
- Actual damages (therapy, medical expenses)
- Attorney’s fees
Injunction under Rule 58, Rules of Court
- Available even without criminal case.
IV. Where and How to File Complaints
- Barangay Level – For unjust vexation, light threats, and acts covered by the Katarungang Pambarangay Law (mandatory conciliation for offenses with penalty ≤ 1 year imprisonment or fine ≤ ₱500,000).
- Philippine National Police (PNP) – Women and Children Protection Desks (WCPD) in every station.
- Public Prosecutor’s Office – For filing of Information in court.
- Department of Labor and Employment – For workplace GBSH.
- Commission on Higher Education / DepEd – For school-related harassment.
- National Privacy Commission – If harassment involves illegal processing of personal data (RA 10173).
V. Key Jurisprudential Doctrines
- Threats via text message or social media are admissible and punishable (People v. Silva, 2018).
- Repeated sending of messages, even without explicit threat, can constitute unjust vexation or GBSH (Ang v. Court of Appeals, 2015).
- Online sexual harassment under RA 11313 does not require that the offender and victim be physically apart — it covers private messages as well.
- Protection orders under RA 9262 can be issued ex parte and are immediately executory.
Conclusion
Victims of harassment and threats in the Philippines have multiple overlapping layers of protection: the Revised Penal Code for general offenses, RA 9262 for intimate partner violence, RA 11313 for gender-based harassment in all spaces including online, and the Cybercrime Law for digital threats. Protection orders provide immediate relief, while criminal prosecution and civil damages offer long-term accountability. Victims are encouraged to document all incidents (screenshots, recordings, witnesses) and immediately report to the nearest PNP Women and Children Protection Desk or barangay.
The law has progressively become more victim-centered, with the Safe Spaces Act (2018) marking the most significant expansion of protection against everyday forms of harassment that were previously dismissed as “minor” or “normal.” As of 2025, these laws remain the primary legal arsenal against harassment and threats in the country.