The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) Cybercrime Division and Facebook Philippines to take down the viral post on a woman with mental health condition who was made to discredit Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto in a video.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan na kami ngayon sa NBI Cybercrime Division para matukoy kung sino yung nag-upload at makikipag-ugnayan na kami sa Facebook para i-bring down yung post. Kasi tuloy-tuloy eh, maraming nanunuod, so iyon ang request ng biktima at ng pamilya na maibaba iyon,” Secretary Rex Gatchalian told news anchor Arnold Clavio during an interview with ‘Unang Hirit’ on Tuesday (April 8).
Secretary Gatchalian said the DSWD is currently prioritizing the well-being of the woman with psychosocial disability through the provision of psychosocial interventions and financial assistance to help her family meet her needs.
“Inuna muna natin tingnan yung kalagayan ng ating biktima kasi syempre may psychological trauma dahil hiyang-hiya siya, kinakantyawan na sya,” the DSWD chief pointed out.
The DSWD fact-finding team led by Asst. Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna of the International Affairs, and Attached and Supervised Agencies (IAASA) is set to do a follow up assessment with the victim and her family later today.
The DSWD chief said that should the family decide to file a complaint against the perpetrators, the agency will provide legal assistance. (AKDL)