PH tops Asia in rights defender abductions–report

The Philippines recorded the highest number of alleged abductions of human rights defenders (HRDs) in Asia from 2023 to 2024, according to a biennial report released on Friday by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia).

With 15 documented cases, the Philippines ranked first among 24 Asian countries, followed by Bangladesh with nine, and Afghanistan and Pakistan with seven each.

There were at least 32 Filipino abduction victims mentioned in the report, which did not say how many remained missing.

These cases are recorded in the Asian Human Rights Defenders Portal, a public database maintained by Forum-Asia since 2010. Only verified cases sourced from media, United Nations reports and civil society groups are included. Each case must name the victim, identify the type and location of the violation and establish a link to their HRD work.

Mindoro case

One case cited involved indigenous rights defenders Job David, Peter del Monte Jr. and Alia Encela, who were allegedly abducted by soldiers in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro, on Sept. 23, 2023. The Philippine Army denied the claim, alleging the three were members of the New People’s Army who were arrested following a military operation and remain in custody.

“However, similar patterns were observed in previous military abductions where Red-tagging tactics were used to justify human rights violations,” the report said.

Red-tagging is the labeling and vilifying of certain groups and individuals as part of insurgent or terrorists groups by the military, state agents and government officials, opening them up to harassment, intimidation, violence or even assassinations.

Abduction is just one of many tactics cited in the report to clamp down on human rights. Judicial harassment was the most common, with 868 cases recorded across Asia, often involving the police or judiciary. These included arrests, repressive laws and denial of fair trials aimed at silencing dissent.

Another category is threats, intimidation and censorship, totaling 376 cases. Of these, 41 occurred in the Philippines. Under this classification is vilification, with 46 cases, of which 18 come from the Philippines.

“Disturbingly, all of these 18 cases were perpetrated by state actors or are suspected to have been,” the report said.

Environmental, land, indigenous and community-based defenders were among the most targeted, with 60 harassment cases in the Philippines, second only to Indonesia’s 76.

The Philippines also ranked second in attacks on labor rights defenders with 16 cases.

Still, Forum-Asia welcomed legal milestones, including the passage of the country’s first local ordinance protecting HRDs in Isabela City, Basilan, which was followed by similar measures in the province and in Baguio City.