The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has reiterated its call to eliminate the practice of red-tagging, encouraging all branches of government to take urgent and coordinated action to safeguard fundamental freedoms in the Philippines.
The appeal follows the release of findings from the National Inquiry on the Current Situation of Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines with a Focus on Incidents of Red-Tagging, conducted in 2025.
The nationwide inquiry drew from public hearings, sworn statements, and expert inputs across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, capturing diverse experiences while acknowledging limitations in scope and participation.
The CHR report finds that red-tagging persists as a systematic pattern of labeling individuals and groups as “communists,” “terrorists,” or “enemies of the State,” often without due process and amplified through public and online platforms.
Those targeted include journalists, lawyers, students, labor leaders, Indigenous Peoples, and community organizers engaged in advocacy and civic work.
“Red-tagging is not a harmless label. It creates a real and well-founded risk of harm. It exposes individuals to threats, harassment, and violence, and may serve as a precursor to grave human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings,” the CHR emphasized.
The Inquiry further warns that red-tagging undermines rights to life, liberty, security, expression, and association, creating a chilling effect on dissent and weakening democratic participation. Despite existing legal remedies, the absence of a specific law penalizing red-tagging has resulted in fragmented protection and limited accountability.
In response, the CHR has called for urgent action across all branches of government:
– Executive: Adopt a comprehensive policy prohibiting red-tagging and strengthen mechanisms for prompt, impartial investigation of violations.
– Legislative: Enact a law clearly defining and penalizing red-tagging, review counter-terrorism laws, and pass the CHR Charter to bolster institutional protection.
– Judiciary: Revisit and strengthen protective writs, such as amparo and habeas data, ensuring timely access to justice for victims.
The Commission stressed that national security measures must remain anchored in human rights.
“Addressing red-tagging requires sustained, coordinated, and rights-based action across all branches of government, as well as meaningful participation from civil society and other stakeholders,” the CHR underscored.
“Ultimately, upholding the dignity, safety, and freedom of human rights defenders is integral to strengthening democratic space and the rule of law.” # (ZIA LUNA)
