Families of victims of the Philippine drug war are speaking out against a surge of online harassment they believe is part of a coordinated campaign, especially following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. On Friday, they called on authorities to investigate and expose those behind the attacks to pave the way for legal action.
Among them is Sheerah Escudero, whose 18-year-old brother was killed in 2017. Since Duterte’s March 11 arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Escudero said she has been flooded with hateful messages on Facebook—accusing her of being a drug addict, a liar, and a paid critic of Duterte.
Human rights lawyer Katherine Panguban of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), who represents Escudero and other families, said they have faced relentless online intimidation, including being labeled as “fake victims.”
Another victim advocate, Kristina Conti, has also been targeted in the smear campaign. Both she and Escudero urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to trace the IP addresses of those responsible for spreading disinformation and harassment.
“These families just want justice, but instead they’re being silenced and shamed online,” Panguban said. “We need the NBI’s help to uncover the real people behind these attacks.”
The online backlash has also been fueled by a wave of misinformation. Some Duterte supporters have likened his arrest to “kidnapping,” while pro-Duterte Facebook ads continue to circulate. Duterte, now 80, is facing crimes against humanity charges for the deadly anti-drug campaign he led between 2016 and 2022.
If tried, Duterte would become the first former Asian head of state to face justice at the ICC. Despite the charges, he has remained defiant, publicly taking “full responsibility” for the drug war’s deadly toll.