EDITORIAL | When Labels Become a Threat

Walang pwersa sa mundo ang makabubura sa mga bakas ng pagpatay sa mga Pilipinong pantay na lumalaban.

We live in a society where the first thing that comes to the mind of a Filipino parent when sending off their child to the city is the advice of: “Wag kang sasali sa mga rally.” We know for a fact that they are coming from a place of concern, care, and love, and perhaps the lived experiences they have had in the past. However, have we asked ourselves why Filipino rallyists or human rights defenders were labelled as something to be afraid of becoming? 

The long-standing labelling of peaceful activists, student leaders, and journalists as members of armed insurgent groups like the New People's Army (NPA) has been deeply rooted in the Philippines’ political history. From the Martial Law period, all forms of dissent—from student protests to labor strikes—were framed as threats to national security. Following this, the administrations of former President Duterte and President Marcos Jr. instilled fear and intimidation amongst human rights defenders and weaponized digital tools to spread misinformation, leaving them vulnerable to surveillance, warrantless arrests, and extrajudicial killings (Amnesty International, 2024). Up until the present times, online red-tagging, harassment, and violence became rampant, especially in the current administration. 

More than the labels anchored to them, the constant threat, violence, and killings fundamentally violates constitutional human rights. The Supreme Court of the Philippines (2024) declared that red-tagging, vilification, labelling, and guilt by association infringes a person’s right to life, liberty, or security. Right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are also being compromised due to the silencing of their voices, whether offline or online. Moreover, with the implementation of the Executive Order 70 and the Anti-Terrorism Act, the government is directly responsible for the violence and threats directed at human rights defenders (Amnesty International, 2025). 

Victims like Alyssa Alano, a University of the Philippines Diliman student leader and human rights advocate, illustrate the devastating human cost of such red-tagging narratives. Who knew that a genuine community visit would be her tragic demise? We could name names, count the deaths, and remember faces but then again, we can never bring back such fearless, innocent souls. 

There are thousands of Alyssa Alano out there—before, now, and in the future—at the forefront of fighting for our rights, seeking justice, and demanding action. Beyond simply recognizing their efforts to pursue justice, the people must urge the enactment of comprehensive legislation for the protection of human rights defenders, establishing explicit legal safeguards to dismantle the persistent violations of constitutional rights. Furthermore, people must also be proactive in countering the state’s strategy of disinformation, false narratives, and labelling, which includes fact-checking unverified claims, calling out disinformation posts or articles, and disengaging with propagandas. By doing so, we ensure that the sacrifices of advocates like Alyssa Alano are not in vain. 

Ultimately, the moment we allow ourselves to be silent is the moment we lose—we become enablers of state-sanctioned injustice targeting our very own people. It is high time that we learn from the marks of blood in the past and use our collective voice so that no more innocent lives are stolen, no more stories are cut short, and no more families are left mourning. 

May we remember that: “Ang pananahimik ng boses ng masa ay siya ring pagpatay ng demokrasya.”

#VoyagingTowardsVeracity
#IASParagon2627

References:

Amnesty International. (2024, October 14). Philippines: “I turned my fear into courage”: Red-tagging and state violence against young human rights  defenders in the Philippines. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa35/8574/2024/en/ 

Amnesty International. (2025, February 11). Red-tagged and at risk: The threat to human rights defenders in the Philippines. https://aims.amnesty.nl/2025/02/11/red-tagged-and-at-risk-the-threat-to-human-rights-defenders-in-the-philippines/ 

Supreme Court of the Philippines. (2024, May 8). SC: Red-tagging threatens right to life, liberty, and security. https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-red-tagging-threatens-right-to-life-liberty-and-security/