Murder of journalist Percy Lapid exposes government involvement

20. November 2022 | Freedom of Press, Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights News, Internal Affairs

The recent murders of journalists Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in October and Reynaldo Blanco in September 2022 emphasized the ongoing climate of violence and impunity in the Philippines. Both journalists were vocal critics of the current as well as the...

Second journalist murdered since Marcos took office

24. October 2022 | Freedom of Press, Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights News, Internal Affairs

Unknown persons shot dead radio commentator Percival Mabasa – or also called Percy Lapid – while riding a motorbike on Monday October 3, 2022, in Las Piñas City in Metro-Manila. Lapid was known as “a fearless broadcaster” who criticised Duterte’s...

Controversial SIM card registration law passed

24. October 2022 | Disinformation, Freedom of Press, Human Rights News

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the long-controversial SIM card registration law (Republic Act 11934) on October 10, 2022. This is the first legislative measure enacted during his term in office. It requires all SIM card users to register with their mobile...

Cyber-libel turned into a political weapon against critical voices

19. September 2022 | Freedom of Press, Human Rights News

The progressive politician, social activist, and scholar Walden Bello was arrested on August 8, 2022, due to cyber-libel charges. His arrest was widely criticised. After spending a night in jail and paying a bail of 96,000 pesos, the 76-year-old activist was released....

Human rights defenders accused of terror-financing

19. September 2022 | Freedom of Press, Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights News

The church-based human rights group Rural Missionaries of the Philippines-Northern Mindanao (RMP-NMR) is accused of terrorist financing, based on a statement issued by the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) on August 15, 2022. Among the 16 accused individuals are...

Anti-Terrorism Act is no basis for NTC to block websites

15. August 2022 | Disinformation, Freedom of Press, Human Rights News

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon ordered the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to block the access of at least 30 websites of different groups – including alternative media outlets and progressive groups such as Bulatlat, Save our Schools...