Senator Condemns Online Death Threats After Vlogger's Funeral

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday, July 23, condemned the death threats and pro-killing comments she said surfaced online following the death of political vlogger Alicia “Mima Alicia” Alipata after attending the slain vlogger’s funeral. Hontiveros said some people celebrated Alicia’s death and called for further violence online, while others allegedly threatened that she would be “the next one.” The senator stressed that these online hate crimes and threats undermine freedom of expression in the Philippines. The Philippines has seen a persistent pattern of journalists and vloggers who express political opinions or criticisms becoming targets. In particular, online defamation and threats through social media have become a serious social issue. This incident once again highlights the need for regulations against hate speech and threats in the online space. Hontiveros stated that such actions shake the foundations of democracy and called for strict legal action. She also urged online platform providers to strengthen their monitoring and removal of hate speech and threatening content.