INDIVIDUALS who will be posting defamatory remarks against a person indebted to them on social media will be facing online libel, a police officer said.
Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (Racu) Davao director Colonel Noel Espinoza said they have been receiving the bulk of complaints in their office from borrowers who complain against debt collectors of harassing them online.
Social media has become a platform for lenders to force their creditors to pay them. Some post unpleasant messages and libelous remarks. They also blackmail their borrowers to expose their debts unless they settle their accountabilities.
Earlier, a measure has been filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian Senate Bill No. 1366 or “The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act”, which prohibits debt collectors from harassing, oppressing, or abusing any debtor, as well as use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.
“Mayron na tayong nare-receive na complaint. Since hindi pa na-aaprove ito at pinag-uusapan pa. Ang usually na pina-file namin kasi diyan is online libel. Online libel dahil parang pino-post mo, sinisiraan mo ang pagkatao ng isang tao,” Espinoza said.
He added, “Once na pinost mo ‘yong picture ng isang tao then nag-caption ka ‘don that will destroy (their) personality (its considered online libel).”
Although the bill is still pending in the Senate, such case is still covered by the Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act that regulates cyber-related cases.