Former national police chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar urged the Department of Justice to also look at the cases of harassments and threats on other political candidates amid reports of the assassination attempt on a presidential aspirant that was uncovered in popular social networking service Tiktok.

Eleazar, who is running for senator, said other candidates also became victims of various threats and intimidation from netizens.

"From bullying, threats of rape to relatives and even threats of killing, other candidates were also victims of various forms of harassments in the social media especially due to intense political polarization in the country," said Eleazar.

"In the spirit of fairness, the Department of Justice and other government agencies should also look at the threats to other candidates," he added.

Eleazar said bullying and threats appear to have become ‘normal’ in the social media which is exactly the opposite of the good values that Filipinos are known for.

Aside from political and other popular personalities, he said the usual victims are also ordinary citizens—the threats and harassments range from difference of opinion on politics, religion and even personal reasons.

“We need to strengthen the power of the government on social media platforms because there are already prevailing mindset that the government is helpless on these kinds of threats and intimidation," said Eleazar.

“Ano pang silbi ng gobyerno kung hindi nito kayang proteksyunan ang kanyang mamamayan sa social media? (What's the purpose of the government if it could not protect its own people in the social media,” he stressed.

Eleazar also called on other netizens and victims of threats and harassments to fight back either by reporting the incidents to proper authorities or through comments and reactions that would not sacrifice decency and responsible use of the social media.

He added that silence is what gives cyberbullies the determination to continue with their irresponsible use of social media.