Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito has filed a bill seeking to address the growing problem of cyberbullying, fake news, and online defamation in the Philippines. Called the Anti-Online Hate and Harassment Bill, or the “Emman Atienza Bill,” it aims to penalize users who spread hate or commit online harassment.
The bill was named after Emman Atienza, the late daughter of TV host Kim Atienza, who passed away in October 22 and struggled with mental health issues following online attacks.
Ejercito says the bill is meant to expand existing laws such as the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Anti-Bullying Act, which he describes as limited in scope. The Senate Bill No. 1474 would explicitly penalize cyberlibel, hate speech, harassment, discrimination, and the non-consensual sharing of private information by facing imprisonment and fines ranging from P50,000 to P200,000, depending on the severity of the offense.
“While social media serves as a platform to advocate for truth, it has also given room for ruining reputations, spreading fake news, rumors, false accusations, and violence,” Ejercito says. “In reality, there are no delete or edit buttons for the ones we have hurt.”
In a recent interview on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, Kim Atienza spoke about his daughter’s openness about her mental health struggles, saying she was reaching out for help but was often met with misunderstanding and stigma. “Despite her pain, she was reaching out,” he said.
On social media, the Emman Atienza Bill has been criticized for potentially discouraging online criticism, with many pointing instead to more investment in mental health services, digital literacy programs, and community-based interventions to address the root causes of online harassment.
