Human Rights Activists Call for an End to "Red-Tagging" in the Philippines
- Human Rights Research Center
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Author: Peter Clarkin, MA
July 23, 2025
HRRC supports the proposal to end the use of “red-tagging” to harass human rights defenders in the Philippines. This practice gives authorities a perfect pretext to abduct human rights activists under false pretences. Its continued presence will allow an atmosphere of fear and persecution to remain.
![Protesters against “red tagging” gather in Quezon City, Philippines, on July 25, 2022. [Image credit: Larry Monserate/Sipa via AP Photo]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_17f90846db854d029f0f984f117f4285~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_946,h_631,al_c,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_17f90846db854d029f0f984f117f4285~mv2.png)
Human rights activists in the Philippines have called for an immediate end to the manipulative and exploitative use of “red-tagging” in their country. Red-tagging has been employed by the state within the Philippines since the 1940s, and involves the process of accusing individuals of being involved with a communist insurgency, and harassing them under those accusations. In many situations, the people in question are human rights defenders, who are forced to work in an environment of fear and intimidation.
Human rights activist and former politician Leila de Lima has announced her intention to criminalise red-tagging under the banner of the “Human Rights Defender (HRD) Protection Act”. This comes at a crucial time for the country as the practice was used regularly during the reign of Rodrigo Duterte, and has also been fully embraced by current president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
De Lima’s call for action comes at the same time as a report released by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, which states that from 2023 to 2024 the Philippines had the highest number of alleged abductions of human rights activists in Asia.
The report indicates that there were at least 32 Filipino abduction victims in that year, however it does not go on to mention whether those people have been found or if they are still missing. It is believed that, in the majority of these cases, red-tagging tactics were used by the authorities to legitimise these abductions.
One such instance involved two environmental activists, Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, who were abducted by masked men in September 2023. More than two weeks after they were taken, they were presented to the media as communist rebels who had voluntarily surrendered.
However, during the press conference Castro and Tamano went against the official script and asserted that they had been taken by force. Due to mounting pressure from the public, the pair were released ten hours later but have since started the procedure of bringing the military personnel involved to justice.
While de Lima has received some support from the Supreme Court who last year described red-tagging as capable of posing “threats to a person’s right to life, liberty, or security,” she still faces many hurdles that must be crossed before criminalising the practice can become a reality. One of which is the fact that red-tagging has no official legal definition, and therefore the seriousness of it can be downplayed by those who support its implementation.
It is clear that if red-tagging is going to be consigned to history then de Lima must be provided with backing from human rights activists both in and outside of the Philippines.
Glossary
Abductions – Taking someone away by force, often illegally.
Asserted – Stated something strongly or confidently.
Communist insurgency – A rebellion or uprising led by a group that follows communist beliefs.
Consigned – Sent or assigned something or someone to a specific place or situation.
Criminalise – To make something illegal or treat someone as a criminal.
Downplayed – Made something seem less important or serious than it really is.
Exploitative – Taking unfair advantage of someone for personal gain.
False – Not true or correct.
Force – To make someone do something against their will or to use power to make something happen.
Harass – To repeatedly bother or threaten someone.
Implementation – Putting a plan or decision into action.
Intimidation – Using fear or threats to control or influence someone.
Legitimise – To make something seem legal, right, or acceptable.
Manipulative – Controlling or influencing someone in a clever but dishonest way.
Persecution – Harsh or unfair treatment of someone, especially because of their beliefs.
Pretext – A false reason given to hide the real purpose.
Pretences – Acts of pretending or making something seem true when it’s not.
Rebels – People who fight against the government or authority.
Red-tagging – Accusing someone of being a communist or terrorist without clear proof.
Surrendered – Gave up or stopped resisting, especially in a conflict or fight.
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