Group says ex-president Duterte remains a ‘threat to victims’ amid online harassment

March 17, 2025 , 05:17 PM

By Clarist Mae Zablan

(March 17, 2025) – An advocacy group on Monday called out false information and “character assassination” against families of drug war victims online after former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week.

Rise Up for Life and for Rights, a network of families and advocates of drug war victims, said that they have observed a “sharp spike” in hate speech, threats, and harassment that were particularly targeted towards women who spoke against the killing of their loved ones in connection to Duterte’s war on drugs.

“Online bashers have clearly demonstrated the continuing threat of a Duterte ‘hate’ network to families-victims as well as to witnesses of drug war killings,” the group said in a statement.

Ikinabahala ng grupong Rise Up for Life and for Rights ang pagkalat sa social media ng maling impormasyon at “character assassination” laban sa mga kaanak ng mga napatay sa war on drugs sa ilalim ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. #News5 pic.twitter.com/AaNEnZoHCS
— News5 (@News5PH) March 17, 2025

The group also believed that the numerous incidents of misinformation and harassment online are “incontrovertible evidence” that the former president and the “hate and violent culture he enables” are still a “threat to victims who dare to speak up or testify.”

“This presents another compelling reason for Duterte to be denied interim release,” they said. “He must be prohibited from any return to the Philippines. His penchant for revenge is strong. His record shows his propensity to incite people to take revenge and inflict violence and, sadly, this has seeped into the minds and behaviors of many.”

Last week, Duterte was arrested and flown to The Hague, Netherlands amid the ICC’s investigation into the former president’s bloody and brutal drug war policy. Human rights groups have estimated that as many as 30,000 were killed in connection to the war on drugs.

The confirmation of his charges was set on Sept. 23, ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I presiding judge Iulia Motoc said during Duterte’s initial appearance.

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