Philippines is the deadliest country in Asia for environmental defenders, report finds

Global Witness documented 124 killings of land and environmental defenders worldwide in 2025, with 12 occurring in the Philippines, the highest total for any country outside Latin America. The Philippine military is suspected of involvement in five of those killings amid rural counterinsurgency operations and resource extraction projects.

Manila-based group Kalikasan PNE says the violence is embedded in state policies that favor extractive industries, pointing to the Marcos administration's expansion of foreign and corporate access to mineral resources. Beyond killings, the rights body KARAPATAN documented terrorism charges brought against 227 activists in 2025 through so-called red-tagging.

Kalikasan PNE is calling for the repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the dismantling of the government's anti-insurgency task force, along with a review of projects that displace communities and damage the environment. The Philippine government's response to these specific calls was not included in the report.

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