by Walden Bello, Amnesty International Philippines’ Most Distinguished Defender of Human Rights Awardee (2023)
I am extremely alarmed by recent acts of the Philippine government that clearly aim to stifle dissent and progressive movements.
The first is the filing of sedition charges and subpoenas against at least 70 individuals, mostly activists who participated in the broad mobilizations against corruption held on September 21, 2025. In no way can the social media posts (which the cases are based on) be interpreted as sedition. The charges are clearly intended to intimidate critics of the administration and the broader systems of power and corruption underlying it.
The second is the conviction of journalist and human rights worker Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil of the “Tacloban 5” on charges of terrorism financing, who have been sentenced to 12–18 years in prison. The convictions came after a prolonged period of nearly six years of pre-trial detention which has been widely condemned.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), who have conducted their own investigation into the case of the Tacloban 5, have condemned the conviction as “a devastating failure on the part of the Philippine justice system.” Amnesty International PH has said that the verdict “underscores the weaponization of the Anti-Terror Law to silence members of the media, human rights defenders, and development workers without credible evidence.” This is a clear continuation of the pattern of fabricating charges to dismantle the progressive movement, making up allegations until something sticks, as evidenced by the earlier dismissal of murder charges in the same case.
This weaponization of the law raises deep concerns about the erosion of democratic space in the country. Instead of engaging with public criticism and focusing on addressing the problems of systemic corruption and inequality, the state appears to be more invested in attacking critics.
We cannot separate this from the context of weakening legitimacy and institutional trust in the political system, control of which is being disputed by the Marcos and Duterte dynasties. The people must not allow the abuse of the law to advance dynastic interests, subvert democracy, and promote repression.
