UN Human Rights Council urged to protect victims of Duterte´s war on drugs, human rights defenders and journalists in the Philippines
- Pinoy Portal Europe
- Jun 20
- 6 min read
By Macel Ingles
Geneva, Switzerland – Filipino civil society delegates trooped to the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to bring to the attention of the body the ongoing cases of threats, harassments and reprisals linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte´s so-called “war on drugs”, as well as the plight of human rights defenders and journalists under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Speaking before the Council, Mervin Toquero, a delegate from the group Universal Periodic Review Watch, emphasized that the families of victims of Duterte’s “war on drugs” need protection after submitting their testimonies to convict the former president before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, Netherlands.
“(T)he pursuit of justice for families in the Philippines has been met with online attacks -false images, fabricated narratives, misogynistic hate speech, and rampant disinformation designed to discredit and intimidate. These attacks intensified after the ICC´s arrest of Mr. Duterte,” said Toquero.
He welcomed the call of Morris Tidball-Binz, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary killings, to protect victims´ families against reprisals and their rights to form associations.
Toquero, representing the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), also called on all governments to protect and support families seeking redress, to uphold their right to justice and accountability, and to request the Philippine government to invite the UN expert to the country.
Human rights advocacy networks, particularly Universal Periodic Review Watch and “FightToExpress Network also welcomed Irene Khan’s final report from her official visit to the Philippines in 2024.
Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, said in her report that red tagging is concerning and endangers human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and anyone critical of the government. “Although the government has clarified that it does not condone such practice, individuals claimed that it happens,” she said.
Khan explained that the Philippine Supreme Court declared in May 2024 that red tagging is a threat to a person´s right to life, liberty, and security and said the Philippine government should now act on its decision to eliminate the practice.
Khan highlighted the continued impunity surrounding the killings of journalists and called for an end to this systemic problem. Among her recommendations in the main report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council is to abolish the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) as it is a major culprit and instigator of red-tagging.
A special rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to report and advise on human rights issues, either thematically or within specific countries.
A part of her mandate is to meet members of the civil society organizations and evaluate the policies affecting the rights to free speech and expression, including the legal and policy frameworks, and the safety of journalists and human rights defenders.
Khan was in the Philippines from January 23 to February 2, 2024. In an exit statement, she said that red tagging has promoted and engendered a chilling effect on freedom of expression, on the lingering culture of impunity, and the continuing denial of justice for victims of rights violations in the Philippines.
Reacting to Khan´s report, human rights organization Karapatan commended her extensive engagement in the Philippines.
Karapatan also thanked Khan for recommending the prompt release from detention of human rights defender Alexander Philip Abinguna, journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and humanitarian worker Mariel Domequil.
Karapatan Secretary General Tina Palabay also called on the Council to “closely monitor the Philippines´ implementation of the Special Rapporteur´s recommendations,” including the abolition of NTF-ELCAC, and to review and amend the Anti-Terrorism Act.
She also urged the Philippine government to enact the Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill, to adopt an executive order denouncing red-tagging, and to adhere to international human rights conventions pertaining to freedom of expression and opinion.
Len Olea, Secretary General of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), also commended the report delivered before the UN Human Rights Council on June 18 and pointed out that the efforts of Marcos Jr.’s government have “not been decisive in turning the page of the past”. She cited 177 incidents of violation of media freedom since Marcos Jr. assumed the presidency and pointed out that his pronouncements are not matched by substantial actions.
Olea also added that NUJP “share(s) Khan´s frustration that investigations on journalist killings remain slow. She lamented the Philippine government’s failure to prosecute masterminds behind several journalist killings and thanked Khan for reiterating her call for the dismissal of charges and prompt release of community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and two other human rights defenders.
Olea said that NUJP “echo(es) Khan´s recommendation for the Philippine government to address impunity and bring perpetrators of media killings to justice. She noted that six journalists have been killed under the current administration, yet no mastermind has been arrested and prosecuted so far. She further urged the Human Rights Council to adopt Ms. Khan´s report and to continue monitoring the government´s compliance with international human rights obligations.
Among the pertinent conclusions and recommendations are:
Abolish NTF-ELCAC
Combat impunity vigorously
Consider establishing a dedicated special prosecutor for crimes against journalists and human rights defenders.
Carry out fundamental reform of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security so that it is transformed into a stronger, more effective entity to lead and coordinate the Government´s strategy to protect journalists and media workers,
Support the activities of the CHR in relation to its work towards the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and its efforts to define and prevent instances of red tagging
Decriminalize libel in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and other relevant legislation, including articles 353 and 355 of the Penal Code
Review and amend the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020
Adopt an executive order denouncing the practice of red tagging and set out measures that discourage, disincentivize and discipline those who violate the policy
Ensure that any restrictions on freedom of expression, including the blocking of websites, rigorously meet the three-part test of legality, necessity and proportionality provided for under international human rights law and are authorized by the courts.
The Philippine government submitted its official response to Khan’s report to the UNHRC, addressing the recommendation (Paragraph 65) to release individuals allegedly subjected to unfair detention or prosecution. It pointed out that these cases are “undergoing lawful judicial proceedings”, and it cannot intervene without violating the principle of separation of powers, as it has no authority to dictate to the Judiciary.
The Philippine government also declared that it “rejects the red-tagging rhetoric due to the absence of any policy or jurisprudence substantiating such a claim” and dismissed the call to abolish the NTF-ELCAC maintaining that the agency “ensures inter-agency convergence… to address the armed conflict.”
The Philippine government’s comment also stated that Cumpio´s detention is “not an attack on press freedom but rather a demonstration of the rule of law.”
Cumpio is a community journalist who has been detained for over five years in Tacloban. She was 21 years old when she was arrested on Feb. 7, 2020, alongside other human rights advocates. She is accused of "financing terrorism" and "illegal possession of firearms" - charges that could keep her in jail for more than 40 more years.
It was only on November 11, 2024 – almost five years after her arrest – that she was given a chance to take the witness stand. She has denied all charges filed against her.
Meanwhile, The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS), in its reaction to the Khan report pointed out that while it acknowledges the positive steps undertaken by the Philippine government, such as the adoption of the UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists, the establishment of the PTFOMS, and recent legal reforms, it “recognizes that certain challenges persist, including the attacks on journalists, delays in investigations, and vilification campaigns that continue to threaten free expression and safety of media practitioners.”
More than 450 red-tagging incidents were documented in the first half of 2024 alone, with most reportedly carried out by government actors, according to Altermidya, a network of independent and progressive media groups and individuals in the Philippines.
“Journalists face heightened risks for simply doing their job -amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and exposing state abuses,” the statement continued.
Altermidya also expressed support for the call to dismantle repressive institutions, repeal draconian laws, end impunity, and to protect the fundamental rights of those who seek truth and accountability. It urged the government to “act with urgency – not only to respond to international scrutiny but to uphold its constitutional duty to protect press freedom and ensure justice for all.”
Concerns raised by human rights defenders and journalists from Philippine civil society organizations before the UN Human Rights Council at its 59th Session are marring the ongoing efforts of the Philippine government to promote the country’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027-2028 term.
In its campaign to reach out to different states in the United Nations to support its candidacy, it has maintained its strong commitment to international law, human rights, and democratic governance.
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