Philippine Drug War Victims’ Families Demand Investigation Into Online Harassment

Families of victims from the Philippine drug war report experiencing online harassment and seek law enforcement intervention. Sheerah Escudero, whose brother was a victim, has faced intense bullying after Duterte’s arrest. Advocates call for investigations to uncover the perpetrators of these attacks as misinformation continues to flood social media. Duterte faces legal accountability for his alleged crimes against humanity due to his anti-drug campaign.

Families of victims from the Philippine drug war have reported experiencing significant online harassment and have urged law enforcement to investigate these coordinated attacks. They seek to identify those responsible to facilitate legal actions against them. Notably, Sheerah Escudero, whose brother was murdered in 2017, stands among the victims facing such harassment since former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in March and taken to the International Criminal Court.

Escudero has noted a surge in online abuse, describing how her Facebook account received numerous derogatory comments, labeling her a drug addict and a liar for pursuing justice. This sentiment was echoed by Katherine Panguban from the National Union of People’s Lawyers, who represents the victims, indicating that they have been branded as impostors and falsely accused.

In response, Escudero and other advocates, including human rights lawyer Kristina Conti, have called upon the National Bureau of Investigation to trace the sources of these social media attacks. They hope that by uncovering the identities behind these online aggressions, they can take necessary legal actions against them. Conti remarked that these online tactics are commonly employed to discredit families of the deceased victims.

The online vitriol is compounded by a wave of misinformation besieging social media platforms, where supporters of Duterte compare his arrest to an act of kidnapping. Some advertisements promoting the former president have also been observed on Facebook. Duterte faces serious allegations of crimes against humanity for his role in an anti-drugs campaign that allegedly resulted in thousands of deaths, and at age 80, he may become the first Asian ex-leader to stand trial in The Hague.

In conclusion, the families of Philippine drug war victims are bravely confronting online harassment as they seek justice for their loved ones. They have called on authorities to investigate these attacks and hold the perpetrators accountable. The rise of misinformation further complicates their struggle, showing the urgent need for urgent legal action and support from agencies like the National Bureau of Investigation. The ongoing trial of former President Duterte highlights the critical nature of these issues in the context of human rights in the Philippines.

Original Source: www.usnews.com