THE United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression has called on the Philippine government to implement sweeping reforms to protect free speech, address impunity, and end the practice of red-tagging, citing systemic threats to civil society, media freedom, and the rule of law.
In a report published Thursday, June 19, 2025, UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said that while the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken initial steps to reverse the abuses of the previous administration, these efforts are “not enough to turn the page decisively on the past.”
“Since June 2022, the Government has taken some measures to end the horrendous attacks on human rights by the previous administration, especially on freedom of expression, but they have not been enough to turn the page decisively on the past. The Government must embark on more significant legal, policy, and institutional changes to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression,” read a portion of the report.
Khan’s report stemmed from her 10-day visit to the Philippines from Jan. 23 to Feb. 2, 2024, during which she assessed the state of freedom of opinion and expression in the country.
She urged the Philippine government to prioritize the release of individuals in prolonged pretrial detention, including community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and rights workers Mariel Domequil and Alexander Philip Abinguna, who have been held without conviction since 2020.
Misuse of laws
Khan described their continued detention as emblematic of the broader misuse of anti-terror laws to silence dissent.
The report is available on the website of the United Nations Human Rights Council under the title, “Visit to the Philippines – Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.”
Khan called on the Philippine government to decriminalize libel, review the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and enact laws to ensure access to information and protection for human rights defenders and media workers.
She also urged the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), citing its role in red-tagging — a practice that has led to threats, unlawful arrests and killings.
In 2024 alone, more than 450 incidents of red-tagging were reported, mostly involving state actors. Victims were often young women from poor communities.
While journalist killings have declined, Khan warned that the Philippines remains a dangerous place for media workers, with four journalists killed under the current administration.
She criticized the lack of progress in investigations and called for an overhaul of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security. She proposed the creation of a dedicated special prosecutor and stronger protection measures for journalists.
Khan also raised concerns over media censorship and the exclusion of civil society from policymaking, particularly in the newly formed human rights coordination body.
She urged the Philippine government to rejoin the International Criminal Court and to ratify key human rights treaties.
“Change is challenging, but it can be done with strong political will and leadership,” Khan said, stressing that free expression, openness and accountability are essential to peace, democracy and development. / CDF