Philippines Urged to Halt Persecution of Government Critics

Philippines Urged to Halt Persecution of Government Critics
Protest against arrest of human rights defenders in Manila (2020) Photograph by Jire Carreon for Licas News

28-04-2023

Lone de Chene

Southeast Asia and Pacific and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

Human Rights Watch is urging Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to halt the persecution of government critics Leila de Lima and Maria Ressa, both of whom questioned former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

De Lima has been detained for six years, facing three criminal cases, one of which has been dismissed. Although the key witnesses against her recanted their testimony, De Lima is still denied bail.

Maria Ressa, the CEO of the news organization Rappler, faced constant harassment under the Duterte administration before being convicted of cyber-libel in 2020, for which she is now appealing.

Despite being elected almost a year ago, Marcos Jr. has taken no action to halt unlawful arrests and protect the victims. As the President prepares to meet with US President Joe Biden and members of Congress in Washington, DC, on May 1st, Human Rights Watch demands an end to the politically motivated prosecutions of De Lima and Ressa before the meeting.

Sources and further readings: 

Philippines: Drop Cases Against Critics Before US Visit. (2023, April 27). Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/04/27/philippines-drop-cases-against-critics-us-visit