6 UN experts sound alarm over Philippine government’s ‘unchecked’ anti-terror powers

MANILA, Philippines — Six independent United Nations human rights experts have flagged the Philippine government’s “seemingly broad and unchecked” use of the anti-terrorism law to target red-tagged humanitarian workers and church leaders.

United Nations special rapporteurs publicized this month their October 10 letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. detailing cases of red-tagging, judicial harassment and targeted financial sanctions against religious groups and activists “in the name of countering terrorism and terrorist financing.”

The UN experts counted at least 24 alleged victims of rights violations from the government’s counter-terrorism efforts from 2019 to 2023 — which covers the second half of the Duterte administration and Marcos’ first year in office.

The letter was publicized last week by the UN experts, led by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights while Countering Terrorism Fionnuala Ni Aoilain, after the Marcos administration reportedly failed to respond to their communications within 60 days. 

The UN experts noted an “observable trend” where Philippine authorities would accuse church members engaged in development and humanitarian work of membership with the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) — a group that the government has designated as terrorists.

The UN special rapporteurs also raised concerns over the broad range of counter-terrorism powers bestowed upon the Anti-Terrorism Council and the Anti-Money Laundering Council, which have been wielded in a “broad and arbitrary manner against non-profit organisations and individuals.”  

“We have received information that multiple religious organisations and their members, as well as other direct service non-profit organisations have been affected by the alleged measures, in turn hindering access to indigenous peoples, internally displaced persons, human rights defenders, and women and children to critical human rights and humanitarian services,” the UN experts wrote.

This, according to the rights experts, goes against the Philippines’ international human rights obligations, which the government has repeatedly and publicly vowed to uphold. 

The UN experts also warned