The authorities in the Philippines must act now to protect lawyers, or they risk weakening the country’s justice system even further, the Law Society of England and Wales has warned.
After a series of threats, attacks and murders of lawyers handling human rights and politically sensitive cases in the Philippines*, the Law Society along with several global organisations are calling for the protection of human rights lawyer Rey Gorgonio.
On 25 January 2026, he received a death threat linked to his work representing the small farming communities opposing large plantations on Negros Island.
Many lawyers have experienced surveillance, intimidation, physical attacks and worse just for doing their job.
Another lawyer, Benjamin Ramos was murdered in 2018 while representing the same communities. No one has yet been held accountable.
Law Society president, Mark Evans, said:
“The targeting of human rights lawyers in the Philippines demands urgent action. Lawyers must be able to carry out their work without fear.
“We stand with organisations across the world in calling on the Philippine authorities to take immediate steps to protect Rey Gorgonio and other lawyers, uphold both domestic and international obligations and protect the independence of the legal profession.
“Justice is a fundamental public service. Without safe and independent lawyers, no community can rely on the law and truly thrive.”
Notes to editors
*A detailed account of the pattern of attacks and intimidation against lawyers in the Philippines can be found in the Caravana Filipina report produced following a fact-finding mission investigating human rights violations between 2016 and 2023.
Read the statement calling for urgent safety measures and investigation of the death threat against human rights lawyer Rey Gorgonio.
Other signatories of the statement include:
European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH)
Progressive Lawyers’ Association, Turkey (ÇHD)
Indian Association of Lawyers ( IAL )
The Day of the Endangered Lawyer Foundation
The Center for Research and Elaboration on Democracy (CRED)
Milan Dharel, Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council
Republikanischer Anwältinnen- und Anwälteverein (RAV e.V.)
Democratic Lawyers of Switzerland
Lawyers for the Rule of Law, United States
European Democratic Lawyers (AED)
Democratic Jurists Italy
Human Rights Institute of the Brussels Bar
The Law Society’s Lawyers at Risk programme aims to support legal professionals worldwide who face human rights violations because of their work and raise awareness of the risks they face.
About the Law Society
The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.