The wave of online harassment in the Philippines has intensified since the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Instead of support, families of drug war victims are now facing a digital onslaught. Accusations, insults, and conspiracy theories flood their inboxes and comment sections.
Sheerah Escudero, who lost her 18-year-old brother in a 2017 police raid, now receives messages branding her a liar and a drug addict. Others accuse her of working for foreign groups. “They want to break you,” she said. “But we’ve lived through worse.”
Disinformation Machines Back in Motion
This isn’t just random online hate. It’s coordinated. Following Duterte’s arrest, false claims began to spread quickly. Some posts insist the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no authority. Others describe the arrest as “illegal” or “kidnapping.”
Many of these narratives are boosted through paid ads, sometimes without transparency. Viewers don’t always know who’s funding the message. This makes the lies harder to track and easier to believe—especially when they echo years of propaganda.
This strategy isn’t new. In 2019, Facebook removed hundreds of fake accounts tied to Duterte’s former social media manager. Those accounts had been part of what Facebook called “coordinated inauthentic behavior.” Their goal: manipulate public opinion using fake identities and misleading posts.
Now, we’re seeing a similar pattern again.
ICC Case: A Landmark Step
The case against Duterte at the ICC centers on crimes against humanity. The court is investigating thousands of deaths linked to his bloody drug war. Many of these killings were allegedly carried out by police or vigilantes with state support.
Despite Duterte’s attempts to withdraw the Philippines from the Rome Statute, the ICC insists it retains jurisdiction. Their argument? The crimes were committed while the Philippines was still a member. In March 2025, Duterte was arrested under a sealed warrant issued by the ICC.
The move has sparked hope among victims—but also fierce backlash from loyalists.
Victims Speak, Trolls Attack
Despite the rising abuse, some are choosing to speak up. Carlos Conde of Human Rights Watch has taken to TikTok to break down complex legal updates and challenge false claims directly. He uses the platform to humanize the victims—and to remind viewers that these are real lives, not political pawns.
Escudero refuses to be silenced. “We know what happened. And we’ll keep talking,” she said.
But every post is a risk. Online harassment in the Philippines has become a modern weapon. It doesn’t need guns or uniforms. Just an internet connection and a willingness to attack the vulnerable.
