With its shared goal to condemn sexual harrasment and abuse, various women-led organizations, on Tuesday, April 12, publicly denounced the “black operations” that aims to destroy women candidates, their families, and supporters by spreading deep-fake and lewd photographs and videos.
“The unholy alliance of anti-women and anti-people candidates demonstrate what we will be seeing under their regime. As we hope for the elimination of all forms of sexual violence, it was clear to us that only Vice President (VP) Leni Robredo’s camp listened to us on this issue and we vow to make them win,” said the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women – Asia Pacific (CATW-AP) in a press statement.
The statement came after malicious and fake pornographic videos of Aika Robredo, VP Leni Robredo’s eldest daughter, suddenly surfaced on social media and search engine Google.
Meanwhile, the Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau (WLB) said that it denounces the continued “shrinking of spaces for women” in politics.
“These forms of violence against women in politics are done to intimidate and eventually silence women to deter them from entering politics altogether. We do not tolerate this twisted playbook in politics as this will also embolden perpetrators to commit violence against ordinary women whether via online or not,” said WLB Executive Director Jelen Paclarin.
Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK) also reiterated that those who support these acts speaks well of how they are planning to govern the country.
“They resort to desperate moves at the expense of women candidates and their families. condemn this act of violence against women and wish to call upon the authorities to act swiftly punish misogynistic acts by some candidates and their supporters,” said PKKK Secretary General Amparo Miciano.
Miciano likewise called on the public to report online contents that degrade women not only during election campaign, but in “everyday setting.”
Jean Enriquez, national coordinator of World March of Women - Philippines, concluded that these immoral and malicious acts are part of the legacy of sexism, machismo, and misogyny of the current administration.
“ might continue if we do not stop it,” Enriquez reiterated.