By 
13-02-2025
Kevin Ngoma
South and East Asia Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
The human rights situation in the Philippines has improved slightly under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but major atrocities continue. While “drug war” deaths have decreased, they still occur with virtual impunity, and the government refuses to participate with the International Criminal Court’s investigation into probable crimes against humanity. Despite government pledges that human rights are a priority, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and red-tagging of opponents continue to occur.
Extrajudicial killings continue, with security forces accounting for more than half of the 332 deaths reported in 2024. Political violence has escalated as the 2025 elections approach, and legislative hearings revealed former President Duterte’s complicity in the death of drug suspects. Enforced disappearances remain a concern, with 14 occurrences reported under Marcos, many of which targeted activists. Red-tagging continues to intimidate critics, including labour leaders and Indigenous activists, and the Anti-Terror Act is increasingly being utilised against them.
The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with several high-profile cases currently pending. Former Senator Leila de Lima, a strong critic of President Duterte’s drug campaign, was released after nearly seven years in prison, but politically motivated arrests continue.
Concerning drug policy, a summit in July examined prospective revisions, but no clear measures have materialised. Legislation to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights and legalise civil partnerships is still blocked, however, a divorce law has made headway in Congress. Overall, while some progress has been made, human rights violations and political persecution remain serious challenges during the Marcos administration.
Source:
Human Rights Watch, World Report 2025: Philippines https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/philippines accessed 31 January 2025.
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