MANILA, July 30 (PNA) – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on Thursday Congress can review the Anti-Bullying Law with the end goal of protecting the victims of cyber-bullying.
Coloma was reacting to Vice President Jejomar Binay’s statement that he is a victim of cyber-bullying by the patrons of the present administration.
”If the present law is not enough, Congress can identify its defects to protect the people,” Coloma said in a press briefing in Malacanang.
Coloma called on the internet users to be sensible so that they will not be cheated by misleading statements.
”Only the direct victims of the cyber-bullying can express what the effects on them by what have been said in the internet,” Coloma said.
He said cyber-bullying is one reality that the modern technology has provided the internet users a wide choice to freely express harmful statements.
Last May, Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya filed House Bill No. 5718 or the “Anti-Cyber-Bullying Act of 2015” which defines and penalizes the crime of cyber-bullying.
The proposed law aims to encourage people to become responsible netizens and to make them accountable for their “cyber-actions.”
Under Andaya’s bill, the guilty party shall be fined PhP50,000 but not more than PhP100,000 and suffer imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than six years.
At present, cyber-bullying is prohibited only under Republic Act No. 10627 or Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. (PNA)