I. The Legal Framework: What “VAWC” Covers

The primary law is Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (VAWC). It punishes certain acts committed against a woman and/or her child by a person who has (or had) an intimate relationship with the woman, and it provides protection orders to stop abuse quickly.

A. Who is protected

VAWC protects:

Women (in an intimate relationship context covered by the law); and
Their children (legitimate or illegitimate, including adopted children and other children under the woman’s care in many protection-order settings).

“Children” generally means a person below 18, or 18 and above but incapable of taking care of themselves due to physical/mental disability.

B. Who can be liable (the required relationship)

VAWC is not a “general harassment” law. It applies when the offender is:

A husband or former husband;
A person with whom the woman has or had a dating relationship;
A person with whom the woman has or had a sexual relationship; or
A person with whom the woman has a common child.

Practical takeaway: Verbal abuse and threats become VAWC psychological violence when they occur within (or arise from) this relationship context.

II. Psychological Violence Under VAWC: The Core Idea

VAWC recognizes that abuse is not limited to bruises. It includes violence that causes mental or emotional suffering. This is where many cases of verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, and coercive control fall.

A. What the law means by “psychological violence”

Psychological violence generally refers to acts or omissions that cause or are likely to cause mental or emotional suffering to the woman or her child. Common legal descriptors include:

Intimidation
Harassment
Stalking/following/monitoring
Public ridicule or humiliation
Repeated verbal abuse
Threats of harm
Threats relating to custody or taking the child
Destruction of property or threats to destroy property
Coercion and controlling behavior that produces fear, anxiety, shame, or emotional distress

The key is impact: the behavior must cause (or be likely to cause) mental/emotional suffering, not merely annoyance or an ordinary relationship quarrel.

III. Verbal Abuse vs. Psychological Violence: Where the Line Is

Not every harsh word automatically becomes a criminal case. But verbal behavior crosses into psychological violence when it is abusive, coercive, fear-inducing, degrading, or part of a pattern of control, and it results in emotional or mental harm.

A. Verbal abuse that can qualify

Examples that often support psychological violence when tied to fear, humiliation, or control:

Consistent name-calling (“bobo,” “pokpok,” “walang kwenta”), especially in front of children/others
Degrading insults attacking worth, parenting, sexuality, appearance, or dignity
Gaslighting and constant blame that produces anxiety or depression
Shouting tirades, especially paired with threats, intimidation, or confinement
Public shaming (in person or online) designed to humiliate
Verbal attacks that cause the victim to fear going home, fear speaking, or fear disagreement

B. “Threats” that can qualify

Threats are especially significant because they create fear and emotional distress, even without physical contact. Examples include:

“Papatayin kita / “I will kill you.”
“Sasaktan kita” / “I will hurt you.”
“Susunugin ko bahay mo” / “I’ll burn the house.”
“Kukunin ko ang mga anak at hindi mo na makikita.”
Threats to harm the child, the woman’s family, pets, or property
Threats paired with stalking or monitoring: “Alam ko saan ka pupunta…”
Threats delivered repeatedly through text, chat, calls, or social media

C. When “ordinary conflict” becomes VAWC

Relationship arguments may be common; VAWC enters when the conduct is:

Severe (e.g., credible threats to kill or harm),
Repeated (pattern of degradation and control), or
Strategic (used to dominate, isolate, or terrify), and causes mental or emotional suffering.

A single act can be enough if it is serious and produces real fear/distress; repeated acts strengthen the case because they show pattern and coercive control.

IV. Psychological Violence Against the Child

VAWC also covers acts that cause mental or emotional suffering to the child, including situations where:

The child is directly shouted at, threatened, or verbally abused; or
The child witnesses repeated abuse of the mother (many children develop anxiety, sleep issues, panic, or trauma when exposed to domestic abuse).

Threats like “Sasabihin ko sa anak mo na masama kang nanay” or using the child as leverage (“Hindi mo na makikita ang anak mo”) can be part of psychological violence.

V. The Building Blocks of a VAWC Psychological Violence Case

In practice, the case is usually built around these ideas:

A. Relationship element (covered relationship)

You must show the offender is a husband/ex-husband, dating/sexual partner (current or former), or someone with a common child.

B. Acts/omissions constituting psychological violence

You must identify the abusive conduct:

verbal abuse,
threats,
harassment/stalking/monitoring,
humiliation,
coercive control, etc.

C. Result: mental or emotional suffering (or likelihood of it)

This is crucial. You must show that the behavior caused:

fear,
anxiety,
depression,
trauma symptoms,
emotional distress,
humiliation,
sleeplessness,
panic,
social withdrawal,
or similar harm.

Proof can come from the victim’s testimony, corroborating witnesses, messages, recordings, medical/psychological records, and other surrounding circumstances.

VI. Evidence: How Verbal Abuse and Threats Are Commonly Proven

Psychological violence cases often rely on “invisible” harm. Evidence usually comes from multiple sources:

A. Digital evidence (often the strongest)

Screenshots of threats/insults (SMS, Messenger, Viber, email)
Call logs showing repeated harassment
Voice messages
Social media posts humiliating the victim
Backups/cloud copies (so they aren’t “lost” if a phone is taken)

B. Audio/video

Recordings of shouting or threats (context matters; keep the full clip to show continuity)
CCTV footage (even without audio) showing intimidation or stalking

C. Witnesses

Children (handled carefully; courts often protect minors)
Neighbors, relatives, household staff
Friends who observed distress immediately after incidents

D. Documentation of psychological harm

Medical records (e.g., for stress-related symptoms)
Psychological/psychiatric evaluation (helpful but not always absolutely required in every situation)
Therapy notes (subject to confidentiality rules; disclosure often needs careful handling)

E. Pattern evidence

Repeated incidents recorded in a journal (date/time/what happened/witnesses)
Prior barangay blotter entries
Prior police reports
Prior protection orders or violations

Tip: Keep evidence in more than one place (phone + email + cloud + trusted person) if safety is a concern.

VII. Immediate Legal Protection: Protection Orders (Often the Fastest Remedy)

VAWC offers protection orders designed to stop abuse quickly—often before the criminal case is finished.

A. Barangay Protection Order (BPO)

Issued by the Punong Barangay (or authorized barangay official)
Typically covers immediate protection measures (commonly including orders to stop violence/harassment and keep away)
Useful when the victim needs urgent intervention at the community level

B. Temporary Protection Order (TPO)

Issued by the court
Designed for quick, interim protection while the case proceeds

C. Permanent Protection Order (PPO)

Issued by the court after hearing
Longer-term protective measures

D. Common protections a court can order

Depending on the circumstances, protection orders may include:

No contact / no harassment (including texts/calls/social media)
Stay-away orders from the home, workplace, school
Removal/exclusion of the offender from the residence (in appropriate cases)
Custody provisions and no interference with custody
Support orders (financial support)
Orders relating to firearms or dangerous items (when relevant)
Other measures necessary to protect the victim and children

E. Why protection orders matter in verbal abuse/threat cases

Even when abuse is “only words,” the court can treat threats and harassment as dangerous because they escalate risk. Protection orders also create enforceable boundaries—and violations can trigger additional liability.

VIII. Criminal Liability and Penalties: What the Offender Risks

VAWC makes covered acts criminal. Psychological violence is punishable, and penalties depend on the specific act charged and the circumstances.

Common consequences include:

Imprisonment (VAWC offenses carry jail penalties; the range depends on the provision charged)
Fines
Mandatory counseling or intervention programs in some situations
No-contact and stay-away conditions
Liability can increase for violations of protection orders

Separate from VAWC, threats and harassment may also overlap with offenses under the Revised Penal Code or other special laws—but VAWC is often the main route when the relationship element exists.

IX. Overlap With Other Forms of VAWC Abuse

Verbal abuse and threats rarely occur alone; they commonly appear with:

A. Economic abuse

Controlling money to punish or control
Withholding support
Sabotaging employment (“Mag-resign ka o papatayin kita” / constant workplace harassment)

Economic abuse can strengthen a psychological violence case because it shows coercive control and stress.

B. Physical violence and “pre-violence”

Threats can be warning signs that physical violence may follow. Courts often consider the overall context and risk.

C. Sexual violence

Threats like “Ipo-post ko videos mo” or coercion tied to sex can form part of psychological and/or sexual violence.

X. Common Defenses and Issues That Come Up

Understanding how these cases are contested helps victims and counsel prepare:

A. “Nag-aaway lang kami” / “Normal couple fight”

The legal response is often: what matters is severity, pattern, coercive purpose, and mental/emotional harm. A credible threat to kill is not “normal.”

B. “Wala namang pisikal na pananakit”

Psychological violence does not require physical injury.

C. “Walang medical certificate”

Psychological harm can be proven through testimony and surrounding circumstances; medical/psych evidence strengthens the case but is not the only possible proof.

D. “Siya ang nang-provocate”

Provocation is not a license to threaten, humiliate, stalk, or terrorize a partner.

E. “Nag-sorry na ako” / “Nagbati na kami”

Reconciliation does not automatically erase criminal liability, and protection orders may remain necessary for safety.

XI. What To Do If You’re Experiencing Verbal Abuse or Threats at Home

A. Safety first

If there is immediate danger, prioritize leaving safely and contacting authorities.
Make a plan: where to go, who to call, what to bring (IDs, birth certificates, money, meds).

B. Preserve evidence

Screenshot threats (include dates/times)
Save voice messages
Back up to cloud/email/trusted person
Keep a written incident log

C. Seek a protection order

Barangay route for immediate community-level intervention (BPO)
Court route for broader protections (TPO/PPO), especially for serious threats, stalking, or repeated harassment

D. Consider filing a criminal complaint

A criminal complaint under VAWC is typically filed through the appropriate prosecutorial process (and/or via police assistance), depending on the situation.

E. Get support

Legal aid and support services can help with protection orders, safety planning, and documentation.

XII. Frequently Asked Questions

1) Is one threat enough to be psychological violence?

It can be—especially if it is credible, severe, and causes real fear or distress. Repetition is common but not always required.

2) What if the threats are online or by phone?

Threats and harassment delivered through messages, calls, and social media can support psychological violence, especially when they intimidate, humiliate, or control.

3) Does VAWC cover non-married partners?

Yes, if there is (or was) a dating relationship, sexual relationship, or common child.

4) Does VAWC cover abuse after breakup?

Yes. Former husbands or former partners within the covered relationship can still be liable.

5) What if the abuse is mainly “insults” but no threats?

Severe or repeated insults, public humiliation, and degrading verbal attacks may qualify if they cause emotional suffering and are part of coercive or abusive behavior.

6) What about the child who witnesses the abuse?

Exposure can be part of harm to the child; direct verbal abuse or threats to the child also fall within the protection of VAWC.

XIII. Key Practical Markers That Often Signal Psychological Violence (Not Just “Harsh Words”)

Verbal abuse and threats are more likely to be treated as VAWC psychological violence when they include:

Fear-based language (kill/hurt/ruin you)
Control demands (where you go, who you talk to, your money, your phone)
Isolation tactics (cutting you off from friends/family)
Humiliation (public shaming, sexual slurs, degrading insults)
Monitoring/stalking (tracking, constant calls, showing up uninvited)
Child leverage (threats to take the child or harm the child relationship)
Escalation (increasing intensity over time)

XIV. Final Notes

Psychological violence under VAWC recognizes a reality many victims live with: words can be weapons—especially when they are used to terrorize, dominate, shame, or control someone inside an intimate relationship. In legal terms, verbal abuse and threats become actionable as VAWC psychological violence when they occur within the covered relationship and result in (or are likely to result in) mental or emotional suffering to the woman and/or her child.

If you want, share a brief, non-identifying example of the behavior (e.g., what was said, how often, and how it affected daily life), and the likely VAWC angle can be mapped in a more structured way (without replacing formal legal advice).