Election watchdogs raised concerns over a sharp rise in campaign violations as Filipin@s casted their votes on Monday, May 12, 2025 for the congressional and local government elections with so-called “red-tagging” emerging as the most widespread and alarming offense in the 2025 polls.
As of May 10, 2025, Vote Report PH recorded 1,750 violations, an eightfold increase from 2022, with a notable number of red-tagging incidents, both online and offline.
“Red-tagging” is a practice of labeling individuals or organizations —often without evidence — as communists or terrorists, which can expose them to harassment, violence, or legal repercussions. Pointing out its dangers to free speech and democratic discourse, Vote Report PH and election watchdog Kontra Daya called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to act against the reported “red-tagging” cases.
“‘Red-tagging’ not only violates Comelec Resolution No. 11116 but also endangers the lives of the victims,” said Prof. Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya.
In an earlier press statement, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also expressed concern about the rise in electoral offenses, particularly “red-tagging.” It noted that cases of alleged “red-tagging” have involved the use of deepfakes to spread disinformation, linking certain candidates and groups to the communist armed rebel group New People’s Army.
The CHR emphasized that Resolution No. 11116, which was issued by Comelec last February, “explicitly prohibits acts of vilification, labeling [or ‘red-tagging’], or guilt by association.” These actions are now classified as election offenses, following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Deduro v. Vinoya. Citing the decision, the CHR warned that “red-tagging” endangers individuals’ rights to life, liberty, and security, while also eroding human dignity and democratic values.
Despite the Comelec resolution, the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) reported that nearly 79% of the violations it tracked as of April 30, 2025, involved “red-tagging,” frequently directed at progressive candidates. According to ICHRP, the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan) bloc and its allied party-list groups -Bayan Muna, Gabriela, ACT Teachers, and Kabataan – are reportedly the main targets of “red-tagging” attacks.
Rochelle Porras, coordinator of the Workers Electoral Watch (WE Watch), said that “red-tagging” is more than labeling – it’s a violent tactic meant to discredit candidates.
The Makabayan coalition had lodged a formal complaint against the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), accusing it of “red-tagging” and defamation throughout the election campaign.
The ICHRP criticized the Marcos Jr. administration for failing to address “red-tagging,” including not abolishing the NTF-ELCAC. The group also warned that using fear, intimidation, and disinformation to influence voters contradicts the principles of fair, free, and honest elections, especially ahead of the upcoming polls.
Photo © Raffy Lerma