Defensor seeks NBI help to trace person who threatened daughter’s life

Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor during the weekly briefing at the House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor has tapped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to trace the person who threatened to kill his daughter on social media.

Defensor said that after posting a photo on his social media account, one person left a death threat against his daughter Juliana.

“Nagulat ako kasi nung Linggo, parang pinost ko yung the night before the novena noong aming anak. Tapos merong nagkomento doon, ‘Papatayin ko yung anak mo, g*go.’ Yung pangalawang sinabi niya, parang ‘Mata sa mata, buhay sa buhay, papatayin ko si Juliana,” Defensor told reporters.

(I was shocked because last Sunday, I was like posting something the night before the novena with my child. Then someone made a comment there, “I would kill your daughter, you stupid.” The second time he was like saying “eye for an eye, life for a life, I will kill Juliana.”)

“Siyempre nakakabahala ‘yung ganun. Hindi mo alam kung saan nanggaling yun, kung ano yung isip ng taong yun, at hindi maganda yung ganun,” the lawmaker added.

(Of course that’s disturbing. You’ll never know where is that coming from, what’s that person thinking, and that is not right.)

Defensor said that receiving death threats is nothing new to him and most of the time, he simply ignores them or delete them if they are overly offensive.

However, Defensor said that the comment prompted him to ask NBI’s help to locate the person behind the threat against his daughter.

“Nagpa-message muna ako para madaling ma-trace. Alam ko dinelete niya e pero nakuha namin yung pangalan and hopefully ma-trace namin ito,” Defensor said.

(I asked for a message first so it can be easily traced. I know he deleted it but we were able to get his name and hopefully we will trace it.)

The lawmaker noted that while social media has helped in giving the public an avenue to criticize—and for those being criticized to respond—users should remain responsible in using the online platforms.

“Siguro dapat magkaroon din tayo ng disiplina at paggalang sa isa’t isa na may mga salitang hindi dapat. May mga gawaing hindi dapat. May mag lengguwahe, pagmumura na iwasan natin,” Defensor said.

(Maybe we should have discipline and respect with each other and that there are words that cannot be used. There are things that should not be done. There are languages, curses that should be avoided.)

“Magkaroon man tayo ng iba’t ibang pananaw sa pulitika, iba’t iba ang ating paninindigan, pero dapat bukas tayo sa pag-uusap at pagsasalita nang hindi nagmumura at nag-aaway,” he added.

(We may have different views in politics, we may have different stance, but we should be open to communicate without using any foul words and not quarreling.)

JPV