The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo has slammed as a "distraction" the emerging online attacks against the presidential candidate's family.
It comes as an alleged sex video of one of Robredo's daughters circulating online.
"This is a malicious fabrication and we have reported it to the platforms concerned para matake-down," said Atty. Barry Gutierrez, Robredo's spokesperson, in a statement.
(This is a malicious fabrication and we have reported it to the platforms concerned to get taken down.)
"Our lawyers are studying our options for legal action."
According to Gutierrez, the attack against the Robredo family is a response to the presidential candidate's momentum in her presidential campaign.
"Our supporters should see this for what it is: A distraction. This is a direct and vile response to the momentum we continue to gain. It won't yield votes for those who are spreading it," he said.
"Ang mas malalim na goal ng ganitong tactic, 'yung manggigil tayo at magwala sa social media. Para awayin natin ang mga tao at hindi tayo maka-convert," he added.
(The deeper goal of this tactic is for us to lash out on social media, for us to fight other people instead of converting them.)
Gutierrez urged voters to remain firm on Robredo's message of "radical love," which the vice president previously explained is a message appealing for understanding.
"Kaya nga ang tamang response dito: Hold the line tayo para sa pag-ibig. Be firm but kind sa pagtatama ng disinformation, kahit gaano ito kawalanghiya."
(The correct response here is to hold the line for love. Be firm but be kind in correcting disinformation, even if it is shameless.)
"Malinaw na krimen ito. At ang paraan para talunin ang mga ganito once and for all: Manalo tayo sa halalan, ayusin ang sistema, at panagutin ang mga nagkakalat nito."
(This is a clear crime. And the right way to respond to this once and for all is to win the election, fix the system, and penalize those who are spreading this.)
The attacks Robredo's family also came as her daughters initiate a house-to-house campaign with volunteers across the country in an attempt to further boost her presidential bid, which saw significant growth in Pulse Asia's pre-election surveys.
Allies defend Robredo
Meanwhile, Robredo's allies came to the vice president and her family's defense, while also pointing out that the attacks aim to slow down the vice president’s momentum in her presidential bid.
"Simula na ang paninira sa pamilya ni Leni Robredo. Ibig sabihin, palakas na nang palakas. Patuloy nating labanan ang pambabastos dito sa ating lipunan. Ituloy natin ang laban hanggang magtagumpay tayo. #ProtectLeniAndFamily," said senatorial candidate Antonio Trillanes IV.
(They have started defaming Leni Robredo’s family. It means, she’s getting stronger. Let us continue to fight this in our society. Let us continue the fight until we win. #ProtectLenAndFamily.)
Senatorial candidate Chel Diokno also made similar remarks on Twitter, while calling on tech giant Google to refrain from becoming a weapon for attacks against women.
"It takes a special kind of evil to resort to misogynistic attacks against the kids. Ito ba ang uri ng pulitika na gusto natin para sa ating mga anak?" said Diokno in a statement.
(It takes a special kind of evil to resort to misogynistic attacks against the kids. Is this the kind of politics that we want for our children?)
"We call on Google to remove these links immediately and to pro-actively prevent any more links containing the same abhorrent misogynistic attacks to be published. Google should not allow itself to be used for crimes against women."
