Amnesty International has called on the Philippines to end its use of anti-terrorism laws against human rights activists, accusing the government of using these laws to stifle civil society organizations and their members. The rights group has emphasized the need for legislative amendments to create a supportive environment for activists and organizations to operate without fear of retribution.
The issue arises against the backdrop of a series of government actions, including the misuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the earlier Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. These laws have been cited as tools in a campaign of state-sponsored intimidation, involving acts of harassment such as red-tagging – the practice of labeling activists and groups as communist rebels without sufficient evidence – and freezing their assets (Amnesty International).
Instances of abuse reported by Amnesty include arrest warrants being issued on slender grounds, often relying on single testimonies without substantial corroboration. In one case, an organization focused on sustainable agriculture had two staff members detained under allegations of financing terrorism, based on testimony from a former member of a now terrorist-designated group, the Communist Party of the Philippines (Anti-Terrorism Council).
Amnesty International’s latest report not only calls for an overhaul of these anti-terrorism laws but also insists on an end to all criminal charges against development workers and activists currently facing prosecution. Additionally, they are urging the dismantling of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which is involved in practices like red-tagging and believed to exacerbate tensions between the government and civil society (National Task Force).
This appeal is part of ongoing criticism regarding the Philippines’ human rights record, where authorities have been accused of weaponizing social media against young activists and curtailing free speech. Previous calls from Amnesty International have urged the Philippine government to reject the Anti-Terrorism Act due to concerns about its provisions being used to target civil society groups (JURIST).