NUJP: Red-tagging, abuse of libel laws still prevalent
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) called out the government for failing to protect media workers from Red-tagging and state-sponsored harassment as the country marked World Press Freedom Day on Sunday.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS), in response, committed to address Red-tagging, especially of independent journalists, and the misuse of libel and cyberlibel laws, but without providing concrete steps.
NUJP said it has recorded 242 violations of press freedom in the four years under the administration of President Marcos.
The group said 43 percent were perpetrated by state security forces.
It noted further that 10 journalists have been killed since 2022. “Although two of these killings have been declared as [not] work-related by the police, the fact remains that the state has failed to protect journalists and media workers. Perpetrators have not been brought to justice,” NUJP said.
It cited the case of community journalist RJ Ledesma, who was among the 19 individuals killed during a military operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental, last month.
Nine of those killed, including Ledesma, two students and two minors, were identified as civilians.
“The Philippine military lied through its teeth claiming that our colleague was a combatant in an attempt to justify the murder,” NUJP said.
International symbol
NUJP and other groups have also condemned the continued detention of another community journalist, Frenchie Mae Cumpio, over trumped-up charges of financing terrorism.
Similar to Ledesma, Cumpio was repeatedly Red-tagged before she was arrested and detained in 2020.
In its 2026 World Press Freedom Index Report, international nonprofit organization Reporters sans frontières (RSF, or Reporters Without Borders) criticized Philippine authorities for resorting to Red-tagging to silence the press.
It noted that Cumpio became an international symbol of repression as she now holds the record of being the country’s longest-imprisoned journalist on “bogus terrorism-related grounds.”
Red-tagging of journalists has persisted, with 39 incidents recorded since June 2016, according to NUJP.
NTF-Elcac still around
The group also noted how the Marcos administration has refused to abolish the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), which NUJP said has become notorious for Red-tagging, despite calls to stop this practice by two United Nations experts and local and international human rights groups.
The government also chose to ignore the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling which declared Red-tagging as a threat to life, liberty and security.
NUJP also cited how libel, including cyberlibel, and the Data Privacy Act have been weaponized by authorities in other parts of the country.
In some instances, politicians threatened journalists with filing charges against them of violating these laws, often as a warning against pursuing controversial stories.
Other forms of harassment include surveillance and physical and verbal attacks.
‘Impunity remains’
Denial of access to information, cyberattacks in various forms as well as online harassment have also continued.
“The climate of impunity remains and so, no amount of safety measures would be enough to protect ourselves from harm,” NUJP said.
“The attacks do not happen in a vacuum. Those in power want the truth to be hidden, obfuscated or distorted for their selfish interests,” it added.
The group called on the public to stand with journalists in defending press freedom and democracy.
No concrete steps
PTFOMS Executive Director Jose Torres Jr. said the government “acknowledges” the concerns regarding Red-tagging and the alleged targeting of independent media outlets.
But the interagency task force under the Office of the President has yet to provide concrete steps on how it would prevent media workers from being falsely labeled as communists, terrorists or subversives.
Instead it said “we have confidence in the strength of our journalists and media organizations, reflecting a robust civil society committed to advocating… accountability and truth.”
The PTFOMS also said it would work “to improve the legal framework for journalists [by] actively working to address the misuse of defamation laws and to safeguard against unfounded charges that undermine honest reporting.”
It committed to “encouraging independent voices and ensuring the protection and amplification of the rights of women journalists.”
‘Steadfast in our mission’
The PTFOMS also said it recognized the urgent need to combat disinformation fueled by political polarization in the country by educating the public on media literacy.
“The PTFOMS stands committed to supporting our journalists as they navigate the complexities of their profession, striving for transparency, fairness, and justice in the landscape of Philippine media,” the task force said.
“As we mark World Press Freedom Day, we remain steadfast in our mission to protect and enhance the freedom of the press,” it added.
The Philippines ranks 114th in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, only slightly higher than the previous year’s 116th.
This was still the highest press freedom ranking the country has achieved in 21 years. The PTFOMS said this was “progress [that] reflects our dedication to creating an environment where journalism can flourish.”
RSF slams PTFOMS
In March, the PTFOMS condemned the killing of Negros Occidental radio broadcaster Julito “Jaz” Diamante Calo and vowed to ensure “justice is served.”
Calling the murder a “significant threat to press freedom,” the task force said at that time it is coordinating with provincial authorities to expedite the investigation into this case.
The PTFOMS, however, has also been criticized for abetting Red-tagging. In January 2024, NUJP called out then task force chief Paul Gutierrez for linking Cumpio to the insurgency.
In its 2026 report, RSF cited the PTFOMS as being “unable to stem the vicious cycle of violence against journalists,” and said the Philippines still remained one of the most dangerous countries for the press.
The PTFOMS, initially called the Presidential Task Force against Media Killings, was established in 2016 by then President Rodrigo Duterte, issuing his first administrative order to organize that body. The task force was first headed by then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.
Under Mr. Marcos, Gutierrez headed the task force until September 2024 and was succeeded by Torres, a former Philippine Information Agency chief, in November that year. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
Sources: Inquirer archives, pna.gov.ph, verafiles.org
