NEGROS Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. has filed a bill seeking to declare “ghosting” as an emotional offense.
During the first regular session of the 19th Congress, Teves filed House Bill 611, or an act declaring ghosting as an emotional damage.
Ghosting is the term used to refer to someone who suddenly cuts off all forms of communication.
Teves said such acts can be mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting, as it develops feelings of rejection and neglect.
He said it has adverse effects on the mental state of the person being ghosted considering that he or she will be constantly thinking of the welfare or the unexplained reasons of the one who ghosted.
“Studies have shown that social rejection of any kind activates the same pain pathways in the brain as physical pain, meaning there's a biological link between rejection and pain. That goes for friends and partners, alike,” he said.
“The ambiguity with ghosting is that there is no real closure between the parties concerned and as such, it can be likened to a form of emotional cruelty and should be punished as an emotional offense because of the trauma it causes to the ghosted party,” he added.
Last month, Teves filed a bill seeking to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Ferdinand E. Marcos International Airport, citing that the latter should be credited for his contribution to the idea and execution of the project to build the said airport. (SunStar Philippines)