United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan has highlighted attacks on freedom of expression in the Philippines in her final report to the UN Human Rights Council.
Khan submitted her 18-page report on Wednesday. She cited the case of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who was arrested on February 7, 2020, and sentenced in January to 12 to 18 years in prison for terrorism financing along with Marielle Domequil. The pair remain detained while appealing the verdict.
The report noted that national security and counterterrorism laws have been used to prosecute journalists and human rights defenders. Khan described red-tagging of activists before their arrests and mentioned her 2024 visit to meet Cumpio and others at Tacloban City Jail.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomed the report on Saturday. It called for the decriminalization of libel, a freedom of information law, and a review of anti-terror laws. Khan also urged governments to form multistakeholder coalitions and strengthen independent regulators to protect expression.
