"State of human rights in the Philippines still marred by impunity, unlawful killings", 21 April 2026

THE human rights situation in the Philippines remains defined by a deeply entrenched culture of impunity and the continued occurrence of unlawful killings …, according to the 2026 annual report of … Amnesty International.

At the Manila launch of its report, titled “The State of the World’s Human Rights,” …, the group said this exposes the failure of domestic mechanisms to deliver justice, as conditions for activists, journalists, and marginalized communities remain dangerous.

… “Democratic institutions are being eroded, civic spaces are shrinking, and millions of Filipinos, especially those on the margins, are bearing the cost of impunity, corruption, and authoritarian practices,” Mr. Santos said…

In the Philippines, unlawful killings in the context of the “war on drugs” persist, with at least 271 drug-related deaths recorded in 2025 at a rate of approximately one person per day. Domestic accountability for these deaths remains minimal, …

Amnesty flagged the growing use of “red-tagging” as a tool of repression, branding human rights defenders and activists as “communists” and creating a climate of fear.

It also said the Philippines remains deadly for the press, with at least four journalists killed in 2025, including Juan Dayang and Ali Macalintal, while community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been detained for over five years on disputed charges, …

Among its findings, the report detailed excessive police force in Manila during … anti-corruption protests, with over 200 arrests that included children, while in Cebu, call center workers were forced to continue working during a 6.9-magnitude earthquake.

Indigenous peoples also continue to face human rights abuses as the government allegedly failed to obtain their consent for nickel mining projects that cause deforestation and health problems. Additionally, hearings into the multibillion-peso scam involving infrastructure projects revealed extensive corruption, bribery, and extortion involving politicians and private contractors…