Four relatives of victims of the Duterte regime’s drug war formally submitted a request for an investigation to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regarding a coordinated online campaign of harassment against them. They trooped to the NBI office on April 4 with their lawyer, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers-National Capital Region (NUPL-NCR) secretary general Atty. Maria Kristina Conti.

According to the NUPL, the online attacks, primarily on Facebook, include manipulated photos, fabricated stories, harassment of women, and blatant dissemination of false information. The group believes that all these are designed to demoralize the victims’ families and their lawyer.

The lawyer group observed that these attacks intensified after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte is currently detained at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges of crimes against humanity for killings related to his implementation of the drug war.

It further stated that the harassment reflects the emboldenment of Duterte’s most aggressive supporters due to lack of accountability, fear-mongering, and distortion of truth. According to NUPL, by portraying Duterte’s arrest as mere persecution and turning survivors of the drug war into targets, his clique is preemptively killing accountability before it can take root.

In response, NUPL and the victims asserted that they will not be silenced. They said they will continue to fight and stand with the truth which is backed by a growing movement for justice. “We helped pave the way for Duterte’s arrest. We will not stop until justice is done,” said NUPL.

NUPL and the victims’ relatives called on human rights defenders to stand with them and expose and report online abuses. “Speak out and remain vigilant,” said the group.

The accused Rodrigo Duterte is expected to appear again before ICC Pre-Trial Chamber 1 on September 23 for the confirmation of charges against him.