Cyber bullying incidents will not dissipate anytime soon, so if you are at the receiving end and you want to take the legal route to address this, read on as the discussion on this post may help you.
- Update 1.8.2020 – Dark Social: A New Twist in Online Bullying
Relevant cyber bullying articles for your perusal:
- What to do when being (cyber) bullied
- What IS NOT cyber bullying
- The culture of cyber bullying in the Philippines
- Bullying Cases up by 21% in Philippine Schools
You may also be interested to check the following:
- survey result that defined the local cyber bullying culture
- statistics related to incidence of bullying and cyberbullying in the Philippines
- and the proactive steps to deal with cyberbullying.
I was asked if there is an applicable law against cyberbullying since the anti bullying law only applies to minor, and the newly signed Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (RA 10175) is silent about cyber bullying.
Though Cyber bullying is not included on the new cybercrime law, some of its provision may be applied to ‘adult’ victims seeking justice. These are:
- Online libel
- Identity theft if the perpetuator created and assumed the identity of a victim, and used said account to embarrass and harass the victim
- Hacking, if the perpetuator hacked and used the victims account to embarrass and harass the victim.
Aside from RA 10175, the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 or RA 9995 also applies. This, if the perpetuators use intimate personal images and videos to blackmail, extort or harass the victims.
For minors, aside from RA 10627, or the anti-bullying act of 2013, “Republic Act 7610 also known as Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act” can also be used to run after perpetuators of cyber bullying and bullying.
 
ARTICLE VI- Other Acts of Abuse
Section 10. Other Acts of Neglect, Abuse, Cruelty or Exploitation and Other Conditions Prejudicial to the Child’s Development. –
(a) Any person who shall commit any other acts of child abuse, cruelty or exploitation or to be responsible for other conditions prejudicial to the child’s development including those covered by Article 59 of Presidential Decree No. 603, as amended, but not covered by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, shall suffer the penalty of prison mayor in its minimum period.
There is a special challenge to identify the cyber bully since bullying can be done anonymously, or hide behind a pseudo online personality. But according to PH law enforcement groups, they have the capability to trace the identity of the anonymous bully.
As the pioneer in advocating cyber wellness in the Philippines, we believe one way to reduce if not totally prevent bullying and other cyber abuse incidents is “educate” stakeholders about cyber wellness.
Read: What is Cyber Wellness?
Cyber wellness education is meant to inform stakeholders of the risks associated with the use of smartphone/mobile gadgets, internet and social media, and equip them with a framework to effectively
- set-up a policy against abuses and guidance on how to use said tools for value adding purposes (school admin)
- set up procedure on how to handle bullying and cyber abuses, and how to help victims. (school admin)
- develop a curriculum or training program for students, teaching and non teaching staff; and learning session for parents. (school admin)
- use practical approaches to set-up house rules about internet and gadget use, and engage kids about gaming and social media (parents/guardians)
- avoid online behaviours that will expose users to risks, observe online ethics and practice online safety behaviours (end user/students)
Read: Why Schools Should Have A Cyber Wellness Program
Here are some of our cyber wellness engagements with teachers as part of their faculty development seminar, and stand alone learning sessions for students, parents, and guidance counsellors.
Founder of LODI Inc. (Learning and Organization Development Institute, Inc.) and Co-Founder of Blogwatch. Mentor and Dad of 2 Gen Z Professionals.
Advocate of #HRinHR (Human Rights in Human Resources) and #DigitalCitizenship
Strategist for Talent, Culture & Content Development, and Cyber Wellness Initiatives
Keynoter and Facilitator of Workplace and Life Learning
Blogging since 2004.
Ask ko lang po if pwede pa sampahan ng kaso for cyber libel yung fake account na luma kong picture yung ginamit as profile pic. Noong 2014 pa po yun ginawa pero nandun pa yung account. Inactive na nga lang. Valid pa po ba na ireklamo yun till now?
Possible. But considering other provisions of the cybercrime law like identify theft
Hello po good day po, ask ko lang po nangungupahan kami at pialyas ng basta basta ng may ari ng apartment, peronag baabyad po kami dahil lng sa nagbarado n toilet nila dun po kami pinalayas at pinag mumura po ako sa labas at loob ng bahay. Narinig po ng anak ko. after po nun medyo takot n po ung anak ko gumamit ng CR. after po nmin lumipta ng 1 week, nag post po ang may ari na wala po sinasabi na name..pero lahat po ng sinabi nya na balasubas, mayabang, at iba pang paninira sakin post nya po… Read more »
you can file complaint first sa Baranggay
Hanggang kaylan po magiging valid ang ebedensya sa iyong hawak kapag ikaw ay pinost
If the case you are considering will fall on cyber libel, than according to this article, its 12 years
https://www.rappler.com/nation/law-experts-12-year-prescription-period-cyber-libel-unconsitutional