Drug war critic priest targeted by coordinated smear campaignMANILA, Philippines — Dozens of social media accounts deployed identical messages, suspicious comment patterns and AI-generated content to attack a Catholic priest known for championing drug war victims, an examination of posts across Facebook, TikTok and YouTube shows. Smear accounts exploited his candid admission of past substance use to falsely label him a criminal or claim that he remains an active user. Through his "Project Paghilom," he facilitated the exhumation and dignified reburial of drug war victims while providing holistic support to their grieving families. During a Senate hearing, he candidly admitted to surviving past drug use to demonstrate that redemption is possible and to advocate for restorative justice. Villanueva's testimony about his past drug use, a story he openly shares as part of his ministry to those recovering from substance abuse, gave operators something plausible to distort.

Source: Philippine Star January 10, 2026 02:33 UTC