A faith-based network of human rights advocates has warned against the possible interim release of former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing renewed threats and harassment targeting witnesses and families of victims of the Philippine drug war.
Duterte is currently on trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity committed during his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Rise Up for Life and for Rights, an advocacy group supporting drug war victims, said in a statement on Monday that the resurgence of online attacks is a clear indication that Duterte continues to pose a danger to those seeking justice.
“Online bashers have clearly demonstrated the continuing threat of a Duterte ‘hate’ network to families-victims as well as to witnesses of drug-related killings,” the group said.
“In these last few days, there has been a sharp spike in hate speech, threats, and harassment, especially targeted at women who have been speaking out on the killing of their loved ones,” it added.
According to the group, disinformation campaigns have resurfaced online, seeking to generate public support for Duterte.
“The internet is also again suddenly flooded with misleading and downright false information deliberately designed to drumbeat support or magnify support for Duterte, some even resorting to victims’ families’ character assassination, sparing not even the judges of the ICC,” the statement read.
The group emphasized that these developments show Duterte remains a threat to witnesses and victims.
“The volume of these incidents is incontrovertible evidence that Rodrigo Duterte, himself and the hate and violent culture he enables, is still a threat to victims who dare to speak up or testify,” it said.
The group urged the ICC to deny any request for Duterte’s interim release and to bar his return to the Philippines during the trial.
“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,” the group said.
The group stressed that granting Duterte interim release would risk fueling further intimidation and violence, undermining efforts to establish the truth and ensure accountability.
It maintained that allowing such tactics to persist would erode the environment necessary for fair proceedings and called on the ICC to prevent any conditions that could embolden harassment or obstruct justice.
The group urged the public to stand in solidarity with the families who have come forward and testified and to push back against efforts to depict Duterte as a victim.
They emphasized the need to support both those who have already presented evidence before the ICC and others who may still be encouraged to speak out.
“Duterte is not a victim!—we must correct the thinking and the behavior of those who threaten the families who seek justice for Duterte’s crimes against humanity. We must prevent re-victimization of the victims of Duterte’s heinous and bloody war on the poor,” the group added.
Rise Up also reiterated its call for the Philippines to rejoin the ICC and urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to support the Court’s proceedings.
“Thousands of families who had loved ones killed in the so-called ‘war on drugs’ are praying for justice,” it said. “As a society, we need to help them to come forward and speak for the truth.”
