UN rapporteur to Marcos administration: Set consequences for red-tagging officials

A United Nations special rapporteur has urged the Marcos administration anew to end the vilification of rights defenders, saying the absence of an official policy does not excuse government inaction against the dangerous practice of red-tagging.

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UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan told reporters Tuesday, June 24, that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must issue an executive order establishing clear consequences for officials who engage in the practice.

Red-tagging involves falsely labeling individuals as communist supporters or sympathizers. These are often issued without evidence and has been linked to a rising wave of harassment, arrests and killings of rights advocates regardless of affiliation.

"The government claims it does not condone it. If that is so, they should put that in an official executive order and make it very clear that when state officials are carrying out this practice that there will be consequences," Khan said during a press conference following her presentation of her report on the Philippines’ rights situation to the UN Human Rights Council on June 19.

Khan's findings on the state of free speech and expression in the Philippines came after her over week-long visit to the country in January 2024 upon the invitation of the Philippine government.

She saw a vibrant civil society and dynamic media landscape overshadowed by state forces' persistent harassment of rights defenders and community journalists.

The special rapporteur later recorded 467 cases of red-tagging in the first six months of 2024 alone.