Incoming Mamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Representative Leila De Lima has pledged to push for a law criminalizing red-tagging, following the Philippines’ 116th place in the 2025 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
De Lima emphasized that red-tagging poses a threat to truth and declared that press freedom is non-negotiable.
She previously co-authored a bill during her term as senator in the 18th Congress that sought to define and criminalize red-tagging. The proposed measure included a 10-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban from public service for offenders.
In May 2024, the Supreme Court en banc ruled that red-tagging constitutes a threat to life, liberty, and security. The decision came in response to a writ of amparo petition filed by Siegfred Deduro, an activist, journalist, and former Bayan Muna partylist representative.
The absence of a legal framework on red-tagging has allowed perpetrators to evade accountability.
While the RSF 2025 report notes a slight improvement in the Philippines’ ranking, the country remains in the “difficult” category. The report identified red-tagging as a serious threat under the Marcos administration.