De Lima calls on public to support the woman behind Pinoy Ako Blog

Detained senator Leila de Lima on Sunday defended Jover Laurio, the woman behind Pinoy Ako Blog (PAB), which has been critical about the Duterte administration.

The senator also urged the public to support the blogger, who has come under attack by the supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Yes, let's defend PAB. In fact, it goes beyond that—we must defend Pinoy Ako Blog, both as the social media entity that brings information, raises questions, and invites critical thinking and constructive discussion that are vital to our democracy, as well as the private person behind that entity, Ms. Jover Laurio, who is a citizen under attack for exercising her constitutional right," de Lima said in a written statement.

"While we hold accountable those who peddle fake news, and use their public office for the propagation of propaganda, we must defend anyone and everyone—and I mean anyone and everyone—who is in the rightful, responsible and accountable exercise of their rights," the senator added.

De Lima said Laurio "does not deserve to be oppressed and persecuted for exercising her rights."

"I used to think that not many of us have the opportunity to stand as defenders of our people. But, these days, the opportunities are everywhere. Just think, by defending PAB's rights, we are defending the same rights that would have protected La Solidaridad and allowed it to achieve the ends it wanted to achieve," de Lima added.

Laurio, who revealed her identity in a blog post on October 13, admitted that she has received threats and hate messages from Duterte's supporters, including RJ Nieto, the man behind the social media page Thinking Pinoy.

"Hayaan niyo na sa akin manggaling ang katotohanan. Opo, si PAB at si Ms. Jover Laurio ay iisa. Isa lang ordinaryong tao si PAB, na araw-araw binabash ngayon sa social media ni Thinking Pinoy a.k.a. RJ Nieto  and his minions," Laurio said.

"Etong week na to was the hardest for me and my family. Nag file na ako ng leave of absence from work because of the threats and hate messages I have been receiving from my personal account both from Twitter and Facebook. I have filed a leave of absence from school too," she said.

"These people are trying to destroy my life by exposing my picture, my real name  and my school. Araw-araw the attacks are escalating. Siguro lahat ng klase ng pambabalahura naranasan ko na from DDS minions. Nanay ko naapektuhan na but she said 'laban lang,'" Laurio added.

Laurio said she is planning to file complaints against the individuals who are threatening and trying to silence her.

"I have already talked to some lawyers and I will be filing criminal and civil case. A group of lawyers offered their services pro bono. Atty. Florin Hilbay also offered to help," Laurio said.

"Pinaglalaban ko dito ay ang karapatan ko magpahayag. Kung ang bawat pumuna sa gobyernong ito ay sisirain nila ang buhay, I guess it is time to resist," she added.

Meanwhile, de Lima, also a staunch critic of Duterte, said the PAB case is a "way by which human rights defenders and government critics are being silenced."

"It is a tool of oppression. It doesn't matter who does it—paid trolls, people sitting on their sofas clicking away on their smart phones, laptops or tablets—it benefits one type of person and one type of person only, the dictators/wannabe-dictators. It leads to one path alone: the tyranny of fear by the powerful being held over the people," the senator said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News