Metro Manila, Philippines – Relatives of drug war victims called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the online harassment that intensified after the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), who helped the relatives in seeking the NBI probe on Friday, April 4, said the targeted attacks aim to discredit the families and their lawyer.
“The attacks – spread widely on Facebook – include doctored images, fabricated narratives, misogynist hate speech, and outright disinformation,” the NUPL said.
“This harassment reflects the emboldenment of Duterte’s most aggressive supporters – paid trolls and hardline loyalists alike – enabled by a leadership that evades justice and feeds on fear and distortion,” it added.
The NUPL said it will remain unfazed and will not stop pushing back until justice is served to the families.
It urged the public to report online abuse.
Duterte’s supporters have been calling for the former president’s release from the International Criminal Court custody in the Hague, Netherlands, even resorting to disinformation and spamming on social media.
READ: Duterte lead counsel to supporters: Respect ICC judicial process
