Key points:
- A church commission is defending Deaconess Rubilyn G. Litao against a disinformation campaign that seeks to discredit her and families of victims in the Philippines’ drug war.
- Fake images circulated online falsely portrayed Litao and the families as living in luxury in an effort to undermine their pursuit of accountability, the commission said.
- For Litao, the most painful part is that victims’ families, already traumatized, are being attacked through altered narratives, personal criticism and false accusations.
A United Methodist commission has issued a statement condemning the spread of disinformation against Deaconess Rubylin G. Litao and families of victims of the Philippine drug war.
In its statement, the Commission on Deaconess Service of The United Methodist Church in the Philippines honored Litao, who serves as coordinator for Rise Up for Life and for Rights. The commission also expressed gratitude and pride for the work of Rise Up, a network of families of victims and human rights advocates pursuing truth, justice and accountability for killings carried out during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The statement was prompted by the circulation of images manipulated with artificial intelligence on social media, falsely portraying Litao and members of the victims’ families as living in luxury while claiming to be poor. The commission condemned what it described as a deliberate scheme to promote lies and discredit those seeking accountability.
The United Methodist group also reaffirmed the ministry of a deaconess as one called to “alleviate suffering; eradicate causes of injustice and all that robs life of dignity and worth; facilitate the development of full human potential; and share in building global community through the universal church,” citing the denomination’s Book of Discipline.
Duterte, who led the country from 2016 to 2022, is in detention in The Hague, where prosecutors have told the International Criminal Court that he should be tried for alleged crimes against humanity related to killings during his anti-drug campaign, as well as alleged killings during his period as mayor of Davao. The International Criminal Court says prosecutors applied for an arrest warrant in February 2025, and Duterte was surrendered to the court on March 12, 2025, after being arrested in Manila.
This month, on the one-year anniversary of his detention, families of victims in the Philippines issued a renewed call for justice. Nay Llore Pasco, a volunteer and core leader of Rise Up, delivered a statement on behalf of the group, noting that Duterte is not the victim in the case, but rather the families and loved ones of those killed during his war on drugs, which Rise Up described as a “war against the poor.”
Filipinos are helping gather evidence because many of them are victims, witnesses, advocates or supporters of justice, who want the court to see the fullest possible record of what happened.
Harmful use of technology
Deaconess Norma Dollaga, an advocate for victims of the drug war and a recipient of the 2024 World Methodist Peace Award, lamented how modern communication technologies are being weaponized to spread disinformation.
“I feel sad that advancements in communication technologies are instrumentalized to promote lies,” Dollaga said.
“It brings to the fore that advancements in technologies can be usurped to promote lies and hurt people. The use of liberty to do whatever they want does not serve the interest of justice.”
She added that while she does not wish to dignify the lies, she felt compelled to counter the narrative.
“I feel for the families who represent the victims. In their long years of seeking justice, their aspirations are trivialized,” she said.
Dollaga called on the public to stand firmly with the victims.
“Stand with the victims. Stand for truth, justice and accountability. The cries and the weeping of widows and orphans must remind us that our humanity has been fractured by the war on drugs that killed poor people. May their pain not be repeated to another mother.”
Victimizing the victims
For her part, Litao initially dismissed the disinformation as a minor issue.
“At first, I thought it was just a light issue,” she said. “But when people who know me started to express concern online and offline, I realized it was not a nonsense issue.”
She expressed gratitude to those who defended her and affirmed her ministry.
“I thank the people who spoke on my behalf, telling the truth and attesting to my ministry as a deaconess — supporting and standing with the victims’ families in their fight for justice and accountability.”
However, Litao said her greater concern lies with the renewed attacks against the victims’ families themselves.
“I am much more concerned when the target of this disinformation were the two victims’ families who became victims again,” she said.
Subscribe to our
e-newsletter
She cited the cases of Pasco, whose two sons were killed in 2017, and Sheerah Escudero, whose brother Ephraim disappeared on Sept. 19, 2017, and was found dead two days later.
“Their narratives are being altered. They are being attacked personally — criticized for the way they dress, their looks, their economic status — and accused of traveling using people’s taxes. These attacks are lies,” Litao said.
She emphasized that the two women represent families who continue to fight for justice, despite fear and trauma.
“Let the truth prevail in our fight for justice and accountability. The victims’ families are telling the truth amidst fear and trauma. They hope others will not experience the helplessness they suffered,” Litao said.
She called on the public to join movements that uphold human rights, justice and peace.
“Let us take part in our own small ways that will push forward the agenda of the people for a better and friendlier tomorrow.”
Despite the cost of her advocacy, Litao said her life’s mission remains anchored in the calling of a deaconess: to alleviate suffering, eradicate injustice, promote human dignity, and help build a global community through the church.
“I know I cannot fully fulfill this mission in my lifetime,” she said, “but at least I am trying, whatever it takes.”
The commission concluded its statement by reaffirming its support for Litao and all families of victims of the drug war, urging the public to reject falsehoods and stand for truth, justice and accountability.
“God will not abandon us,” the statement read. “God is our Emmanuel, who stands with the victims and journeys with us.”
Mangiduyos is a communicator in the Philippines.
News media contact: Julie Dwyer at [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the UM News Digests.
