By Tracy Cabrera
SENATE, Pasay City — Alarmed by the July 17 killing of pro-Marcos vlogger Alicia “Mima Alicia” Lipata, Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel has sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after receiving hundreds of death threats over the past month.
In a statement, the opposition senator said Lipata’s killing prompted her to formally report to the NBI that she has become the target of a wave of online death threats.
Hontiveros asked the NBI to help identify those behind the threatening posts.
According to her, she has received hundreds of social media posts saying she should be “next” after Lipata was shot dead outside her home in Caloocan City.
She lamented that some people, instead of expressing sympathy, were celebrating Lipata’s death and even encouraging further violence.
“Now, many are also openly threatening that I will be ‘next,’” she said.
Hontiveros condemned what she described as a growing culture of “pro-killing” rhetoric online, saying the public reaction to Lipata’s death reflected the normalization of violence in political discourse.
“We are taking these threats seriously,” she said, adding that her office has already submitted to the NBI the names of Facebook users and screenshots of hundreds of posts threatening her life.
“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,” she added.
Hontiveros, a possible contender in the 2028 presidential election, is among the senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio. During the proceedings, prosecutors have presented evidence on Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Three NBI officials have testified that the agency considers those remarks a “serious, active, and continuing plot” and that its investigation remains ongoing.
Hontiveros also urged social media platforms and law enforcement agencies to act swiftly against individuals making death threats or inciting violence.
“I call on social media platforms and law enforcement to act decisively against this culture of impunity online,” 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,” she added.
Meanwhile, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he is concerned about Hontiveros’ safety in light of the threats against her and Lipata’s killing.
Gatchalian said he spoke with Hontiveros when she attended Lipata’s wake.
“I told her to be careful and to take precautionary measures. I also told her that whatever the Senate can provide, whether security or intelligence support, she only has to let us know,” he said.
He added that the Senate is ready to provide additional security for Hontiveros.
The Senate chief stressed that protecting all senators remains a priority and that death threats must be taken seriously. He recalled that both he and Hontiveros also received death threats while leading Senate hearings on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
ia/xf
