Hontiveros seeks NBI help over online death threats against her

Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she received death threats and was targeted by “pro-killing” remarks online following the July 17 killing of vlogger Mima Alicia. MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros was not spared from what she described as the “wave of death threats” and “pro-killing” remarks that erupted online following the July 17 killing of vlogger Alicia Lipata, known as Mima Alicia. Condemning the wave of death threats online, Hontiveros noted that she herself had become a target. READ: Cops probe online activities of slain pro-Marcos vlogger Article continues after this advertisement “Sa halip na makiramay, may mga nagdiriwang sa gitna ng kamatayan at nag-uudyok pa ng karahasan. Ngayon naman, marami rin ang tahasang nagbabanta na ako daw ‘ang susunod,’” Hontiveros said in a statement on Thursday. (“Instead of expressing sympathy, some people are celebrating someone’s death and even inciting violence. Now, many are also openly threatening that I will be ‘next.’”) “We are taking these threats seriously,” she stressed, noting that they had already sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to identify those threatening to kill her online. “My staff has routinely deleted and reported these disturbing comments on Facebook, and we have submitted to the NBI the names and screenshots of hundreds of Facebook users who have threatened to kill me,” Hontiveros said. Sen. Risa Hontiveros said she received death threats and was targeted by “pro-killing” remarks online following the July 17 killing of vlogger Mima Alicia. The senator also called on social media platforms and law enforcement “to act decisively against this culture of impunity online.” Article continues after this advertisement “Hindi dapat maging normal sa atin ang pagbabanta sa buhay ng ating kapwa. Kahit gaano kalalim ang pagkakaiba natin sa pulitika, may hangganan ang ating mga pagtatalo. We cannot allow such hatred to cost another life. We are better than this,” she said. (“We should never normalize threats against another person’s life. No matter how deep our political differences may be, there must be limits to our disagreements. We cannot allow such hatred to cost another life. We are better than this.”) Article continues after this advertisement Lipata, who was said to be a supporter of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., was gunned down by a motorcycle-riding tandem outside her home in Caloocan City. READ: PNP identifies 2 suspects in pro-Marcos vlogger’s slay Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Police said they have already identified two suspects behind the killing of the victim, and one of them has multiple prior cases. /mcm