20-3-2025 (MANILA) A bereaved Filipino mother known as “Nanay Sheila” has suffered the loss of two sons during successive presidential administrations, human rights advocates confirm.
The controversy erupted when social media critics attempted to discredit the mother’s testimony, only to have their claims thoroughly debunked by Maria Sol Taule, a barrister affiliated with the human rights organisation Karapatan. Taule presented evidence showing the mother had endured the loss of one son during Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency and another under the current Ferdinand Marcos Jr administration.
Meanwhile, despite the Marcos administration’s declared shift in anti-narcotics strategy, the UP Diliman-based monitoring group Dahas PH reports 934 drug-related fatalities since Marcos Jr assumed office, a figure inclusive of law enforcement casualties.
The case has highlighted a disturbing pattern of online harassment targeting women who speak out about human rights concerns. Particularly affected are relatives of victims and legal professionals, including solicitor Kristina Conti of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, who holds accreditation with the International Criminal Court.
Karapatan has characterised these attacks as part of a “well-funded and systematic” campaign with clear political motives, rather than mere misinformation. The organisation notes that the harassment, which often includes death threats, exemplifies the “engendered impunity” that has persisted across administrations.
The intimidation has created a chilling effect, deterring numerous families from reporting extrajudicial killings and other rights violations. This comes against the backdrop of Duterte’s controversial drug enforcement campaign, which officially acknowledged over 6,000 deaths during police operations.
Civil society groups are now calling for public solidarity with the victims’ families and their advocates, emphasising the need to counter what they describe as coordinated attacks from politically-motivated social media accounts.
