Executive Board, International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) Philippines
As women journalists in the Philippines, we welcome the conclusions and recommendations of UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan from her 2024 visit with a sense of validation and renewed urgency. Her report resonates deeply with our daily struggles and reinforces the critical nature of the issues we face.
First and foremost, Ms. Khan’s unequivocal call for the decriminalization of libel, the amendment of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020, the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), and the long-overdue passage of a Freedom of Information (FOI) law, among others, bolsters our campaign for freedom of expression and of the press. It is an international acknowledgment of what we have been saying for years: that these laws and practices are wielded to stifle dissent and intimidate those who seek to uncover the truth.
Her emphasis on the pervasive issue of red-tagging further strengthens our resolve to combat this dangerous campaign that puts journalists, especially women, at immense risk.
Crucially, Ms. Khan’s report highlights the urgent need for a review of the Anti-Terrorism Act and related legislation, such as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. The case of our colleague, detained journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, serves as a stark and painful reminder of how these laws are weaponized. Frenchie Mae has been behind bars since 2020 on charges of illegal firearms possession and terrorism financing—charges that many, including international press freedom groups, believe are fabricated and politically motivated.
Her prolonged pre-trial detention and the judicial delays she faces are a travesty of justice and exemplify the very concerns Ms. Khan raised about arbitrary detention and the prosecution of journalists for legitimate expression. The vagueness and broad scope of these laws make us, as women journalists covering sensitive issues and marginalized communities, particularly vulnerable to being labeled as “terrorists” for simply doing our jobs.
While Ms. Khan’s report underscores the persistent threats we face, it also ignites a stronger fire within us. We will continue to report, to investigate, and to speak truth to power, until true press freedom and a safer environment for all journalists are realized in the Philippines. #