A/HRC/57/60 20. Philippines 148. The cases of the Karapatan Alliance of People’s Rights, a national alliance of human rights organizations, its Secretary General,154 Ms. Cristina Palabay, and its staff have been included since 2018 in the reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of red-tagging – i.e. the labelling as communists or terrorists – state-linked cyber-attacks, arbitrary arrests and charges in connection with their engagement with the United Nations.155 On 2 March 2023, Ms. Palabay and other Karapatan staff were acquitted of perjury charges levelled against them in 2019.156 149. According to information received by OHCHR, on 17 November 2023, the judge presiding over the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by the Prosecutor Office of Quezon City seeking to overturn the acquittal of the Karapatan Alliance, Ms. Palabay and its staff. On 14 December 2023, the General Prosecutor filed a motion for reconsideration of the judge’s decision, which was denied. On 29 February 2024, Karapatan received a notice from the Office of the General Prosecutor stating that it was appealing the judge’s decision before the Court of Appeals. 150. The case of Ms. Leila de Lima, former Chair of the Commission on Human Rights and Senator, was included in the 2018 report157 of the Secretary-General on allegations of defamatory and intimidating public statements directed at the Commission, its members and its Chair Mr. Chito Gascon (PHL 12/2017) due to their work and their cooperation with the United Nations. Ms. Leila M. de Lima was imprisoned in February 2018 on allegations of drug-related charges that were deemed “politically motivated” (PHL 5/2017158). 151. On 17 November 2023, mandate holders publicly welcomed the release on bail of Ms. de Lima from prison after nearly seven years. 159 According to information received by OHCHR, Ms. De Lima was acquitted in two of the three drug-related cases in February 2021 and May 2023. Her motion to dismiss the last case, where she is out on bail, is expected to be resolved on 27 May 2024. 152. On 29 July 2024, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report denying the allegations of red-tagging and reprisals against the Karapatan Alliance of People’s Rights, its Secretary-General Ms. Cristina Palabay, and its staff and noting that such allegations had been found to be unsubstantiated by national Courts. It added that, on 30 April 2019, Karapatan, Ms. Palabay and nine other individuals affiliated with Karapatan, had filed a Petition for Writ of Amparo and Writ of Habeas Data (Amparo petition) before the Supreme Court, seeking to protect them against alleged threats, harassment, surveillance by state agents and red-tagging practices and that, on 24 May, the Supreme Court had directed the Court of Appeals to hear and resolve the petition, which it had dismissed on 28 June 2019. The Government added that, on 5 November 2023, the Supreme court had denied the Petition for Review on Certiorari of the said decision dated 28 June 2019. 153. Regarding the case of Ms. Leila de Lima the Government noted that, on 24 June 2024, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 76 also cleared Ms. Leila de Lima of her two disobedience cases adding that the resolution of all criminal cases against Ms. Leila de Lima proved that she has been accorded the right to due process. The Government added that the Court had not found that the criminal cases were without merit or politically motivated, but 154 155 156 157 158 159 62 A/HRC/39/41, Annex I paras. 86–89; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para. 8; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 100–101; A/HRC/48/28, Annex II, paras. 108–110; A/HRC/51/47, Annex II paras. 121–125; A/HRC/54/61, para. 101, Annex II paras. 119–122. PHL 1/2020, PHL 3/2021, PHL 5/2021, see government replies at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36533; https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36754. A/HRC/51/58, para. 35. A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. See Government reply at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35633. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/11/philippines-un-experts-welcome-release-formersenator-leila-de-lima-bail. GE.24-14259