Bautista and Bonifacio both starred in the ABS-CBN primetime drama, High Street, last year.
Harvey Bautista has publicly confronted the wave of online hostility directed at his girlfriend, AC Bonifacio, a former housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition. Bonifacio, who gained both fans and detractors during her time on the reality show, has faced escalating criticism, including death threats, following her eviction in late March 2025. Bautista’s thread, posted on April 24, 2025, has sparked a polarized response, with some praising his protective stance and others questioning its timing and impact.
you know all this hate you're throwing at my girlfriend has become too much and way too violent. the death threats and making fun of her as if you know the full context of everything that happened inside and outside that house?
— H (@hrvbtsta) April 24, 2025
Bautista’s initial post laid bare his frustration: “You know all this hate you’re throwing at my girlfriend has become too much and way too violent. The death threats and making fun of her as if you know the full context of everything that happened inside and outside that house?”
He challenged the narrative surrounding Bonifacio, suggesting that the public lacks the full story of her experiences in the PBB house, where tensions and confrontations were rife.
In subsequent posts, Bautista defended Bonifacio’s actions, stating, “If everything you’re saying about her is true, would anyone in the house still mention her name a month after she got evicted? She was brave enough to confront and be honest to the people she talked to in the house in hopes to be able to clear the air between them and she did.”
He further highlighted her resilience, noting, “She was brave and honest in a situation where most people would’ve folded and just played it safe and be fake to someone they have issues with. She’s learning, she’s healing, and she’s reflecting. And all this hate is not helping anyone grow.”
Bautista also issued a warning to detractors: “Pagisipan niyo po sana muna yung sasabihin ninyo tungkol sa mga tao online. Just because you hide behind an X account doesn’t mean you won’t deal with consequences too.”
pagisipan niyo po sana muna yung sasabihin ninyo tungkol sa mga tao online. just because you hide behind an x account doesnt mean you wont deal with consequences too.
— H (@hrvbtsta) April 24, 2025
His final post was a firm demand: “Shoulda done this earlier but now it’s just getting ridiculous and unnecessary. Back off.”
The thread has drawn a spectrum of reactions from X users. Supporters like @Haz221b expressed gratitude, writing, “Thank you for speaking up H, we love uuuu.” @mailove479898 urged legal action, stating, “Sue them para madala… Let them pay the consequences para matuto at sana wag patawarin kapag iiyakan si AC.”
@gelogelovic added a humorous yet pointed remark, “They’re very brave to say nasty things because they’re hiding behind their keyboards. Pero iiyak-iyak mga yan kapag nahainan na ng kaso. HAHAHAHA. NBI Cybercrime Division is waving lol,” referencing the Philippines’ active cybercrime enforcement.
They’re very brave to say nasty things because they’re hiding behind their keyboards. Pero iiyak-iyak mga yan kapag nahainan na ng kaso. HAHAHAHA. NBI cybercrime division is waving lol
— g (@gelogelovic) April 24, 2025
However, not everyone was supportive. @AntithesisTank_ questioned the timing of Bautista’s response, commenting, “Wow now lang? Nasa alikabok episode na kame,” suggesting the issue had already lost steam.
wow now lang? nasa alikabok episode na kame
— Wilson Tiu – #UP x #MANTRA (@AntithesisTank_) April 24, 2025
@Chichi1326181 replied dismissively, “Sige, sabi mo ‘yan e,” while @awitsaaken brought up past controversies, asking, “Lul. So mxta naman yung Criza issue?”—a nod to earlier PBB drama involving housemate Criza Taa, who faced backlash in 2018 for alleged controversial tweets.
Lul. So mxta naman yung criza issue?
— puro tots (@awitsaaken) April 24, 2025
Bonifacio’s journey on PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition, a collaboration between ABS-CBN and GMA Network, was marked by drama, including a publicized rift with housemate Bianca De Vera over their shared history with Bautista. Despite resolving some conflicts in the house, Bonifacio’s eviction, alongside Ashley Ortega, was attributed by some netizens to a dip in public votes tied to her perceived role as an “instigator,” of drama.
Bonifacio, however, has remained unapologetic, stating in a press conference, “Sa loob ng bahay wala akong regrets, everything that happened [there], happened for a reason.”
The controversy underscores the challenges of navigating fame in the digital age, where online hate can have severe consequences. The Department of Justice in the Philippines has emphasized the role of the NBI Cybercrime Division in tackling such issues, highlighting the legal ramifications of online harassment.
While Bautista’s defense of Bonifacio has resonated with some, others remain skeptical, leaving the couple at the center of an ongoing debate about accountability, growth, and the impact of reality TV on public perception.
