Philippines Urged to Halt Anti-Terrorism Laws Against Human Rights Activists

Amnesty International has called on the Philippine government to stop misusing anti-terrorism laws against human rights advocates and NGOs, Jurist News reported.

The organization highlighted a troubling trend of state-sponsored harassment targeting development workers and activists, particularly through “red-tagging,” which unjustly associates individuals with communist insurgents. This practice, coupled with asset freezes and unwarranted arrest warrants, has severely impacted the operations of civil society organizations.

In a recent report, Amnesty International condemned the use of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 to intimidate and criminalize humanitarian efforts. The organization cited instances where activists faced arrest based solely on dubious testimonies, including allegations of financing terrorism without substantial proof.

Amnesty International urged the Philippine authorities to reform these laws to prevent further obstruction of humanitarian work and to drop all charges against detained activists. The group also called for the dismantling of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which has been instrumental in perpetuating red-tagging.

This criticism is part of a broader pattern, as the Philippines has faced scrutiny for its human rights record, including the weaponization of social media against young activists. Amnesty International continues to advocate for a safe environment for human rights activism, emphasizing the need for reforms to protect civil society’s vital contributions to communities.