The Philippines remained the deadliest country in Asia for land and environmental defenders in 2025, with 12 recorded killings, according to Global Witness.
The figure placed the Philippines tied with Honduras for the third-highest number of environmental defender killings worldwide. Colombia recorded the highest number with 39 cases, followed by Brazil with 26.
Global Witness said six of the 12 victims in the Philippines were Indigenous Peoples, while three were small-scale farmers. One victim was a journalist, and two others were identified as environmental defenders.
Five of the 12 cases in the Philippines were linked to the alleged involvement of members of the Philippine military, according to the organization.
Worldwide, Global Witness recorded 124 killings of land and environmental defenders in 2025.
The Philippines’ 12 cases accounted for nearly 10% of the global total recorded during the year.
The reported victims came from different sectors involved in land and environmental issues, including Indigenous communities, farmers and journalists.
The figures cover cases documented in 2025 and show the Philippines continuing to rank among countries with the highest recorded numbers of killings involving land and environmental defenders.
Global Witness’ data placed Colombia at the top globally with 39 cases, followed by Brazil with 26, while the Philippines and Honduras ranked third with 12 cases each.
