Philippine Drug War Victims’ Families Demand Investigation into Online Harassment
Families of Philippine drug war victims, facing coordinated online harassment, have called on law enforcement to investigate these attacks. Sheerah Escudero, among the victims, has experienced significant online intimidation since former President Duterte’s arrest. Advocacy groups demand the identification of those responsible for these campaigns, emphasizing the need for legal action against disinformation tactics and increased support for victim families.
Families of the victims of the Philippine drug war are urging law enforcement to investigate a systematic campaign of online harassment directed at them. They assert that these attacks require thorough investigation to hold accountable those responsible for the intimidation. Sheerah Escudero, whose brother was murdered in 2017, is one of the families afflicted. She has faced significant online hostility following the detention of former President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2023 as he awaits trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Katherine Panguban, a representative from the National Union of People’s Lawyers aiding Escudero, stated that victim families face accusations of being liars and disinformation agents. Escudero relayed her experiences of receiving derogatory comments and messages on Facebook, which branded her a drug addict and suggested she was financially motivated to discredit Duterte. This pattern of persecution reflects broader tactics employed to undermine the legitimacy of families seeking justice for their slain relatives.
Escudero and other advocates, including human rights attorney Kristina Conti, have called for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to trace the online harassment back to its sources. Conti emphasized the necessity of identifying the individuals engaging in these harmful behaviors to pursue legal recourse. Meanwhile, social media has become rife with misleading narratives that trivialize the plight of victim families, with some Duterte supporters framing his arrest as a form of “kidnapping.”
Duterte, who governed the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, faces serious accusations of crimes against humanity due to his administration’s violent anti-drug initiatives. As the 80-year-old former president prepares to face charges in The Hague, he maintains that he bears full responsibility for the aggressive drug policies enacted during his tenure.
The ongoing struggle of families seeking justice for drug war victims in the Philippines is further complicated by coordinated online harassment campaigns aimed at silencing their voices. As these families demand accountability from law enforcement, they highlight the severe emotional and psychological toll of both real-world violence and digital intimidation. The plight of these victims reveals broader societal issues regarding justice, truth, and the role of social media in shaping public narratives.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
