MANILA, Philippines – In a significant convergence of international legal and humanitarian advocacy with Philippine political leadership, acclaimed human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her husband, award-winning actor, director, and activist George Clooney, met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace on Friday, November 14. The meeting, which also included First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, underscored the critical importance of safeguarding democratic institutions, particularly freedom of the press, in the Southeast Asian nation.
The Clooneys’ visit to Manila precedes their headline participation in Rappler’s Social Good Summit 2025 on Sunday, November 16, a major annual gathering for thought leaders and civil society advocates. Their presence has amplified the global spotlight on the challenges confronting Filipino journalists.
🤝 A Diplomatic Welcome and High-Level Consultations
Prior to their engagement at the presidential palace, the influential couple was warmly welcomed to the country by Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Ressa was joined by a formidable team of Rappler’s women leaders, including executive editor Glenda Gloria, investigative editor and head of training Chay Hofileña, head of multimedia strategy and growth Lilibeth Frondoso, and head of community Pia Ranada. This gathering itself was symbolic, highlighting the resilience and leadership of women in the face of sustained legal and political pressure.
Amal Clooney, a pivotal figure who co-leads the international legal team representing Ressa alongside Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, utilized the meeting with President Marcos Jr. and the First Lady as a crucial platform. The core of their discussion focused on the urgent need to address continuing threats faced by Filipino journalists, specifically the insidious nature of legal attacks and harassment used to silence critical reporting.
⚖️ The Weaponization of Law: The Fight Against Criminal Libel
A primary concern raised by Ms. Clooney was the persistent threat posed by criminal libel laws in the Philippines. She explicitly referenced the protracted legal battle surrounding Maria Ressa’s cyber libel conviction, a case that has been on appeal before the Supreme Court since November 2022. This conviction, which stemmed from an era of intense scrutiny and pressure on independent media, serves as a stark example of how legal frameworks can be weaponized against free speech.
The renowned lawyer voiced her strong support for nascent legislative efforts aimed at decriminalizing libel. She stressed that these laws have facilitated the prosecution of Ressa and numerous other journalists merely for exercising their constitutional right to free expression, thereby creating a climate of fear and self-censorship within the media landscape.
Following the high-stakes meeting, Amal Clooney conveyed a message of cautious optimism regarding the administration’s stated position. “I am grateful to the President and First Lady for the warm welcome and very productive meeting this morning,” she stated. “We discussed press freedom, including the Duterte-era prosecution of my client, Nobel laureate Maria Ressa, and the President reaffirmed his commitment to increasing protections for journalists and safeguarding freedom of the press.”
She further articulated her solidarity with local advocates: “I have great admiration for all the journalists, lawyers, and civil society advocates who speak truth to power, as well as leaders who are committed to creating a safe space for them. I am hopeful that cases against journalists in the Philippines will be resolved in line with the right to free speech enshrined in the constitution and treaties that it has ratified.”
🏛️ The Shadow of Past Persecution and Pending Cases
The context of the discussion is rooted in the recent history of the Philippines. Rappler was among the most prominent newsrooms to endure relentless pressure under the previous Rodrigo Duterte administration. Maria Ressa and Rappler faced a staggering number of legal challenges—at least 11 cases—the first of which was lodged shortly after Duterte publicly denounced the news website during his 2017 State of the Nation Address.
While some of these cases have seen resolutions in Ressa’s favor during the tenure of the Marcos administration, several remain pending. These include the critical cyber libel conviction and other cases that, if subject to further adverse rulings and appeals, could expose the Rappler CEO to a maximum cumulative jail sentence exceeding 40 years. The continuation of these legal threats remains a significant deterrent to aggressive investigative journalism.
Ms. Clooney commended President Marcos for his expressed commitment to upholding the freedom of the press and proceeded to outline concrete steps and systemic improvements the current administration could implement to solidify this protection.
🌐 The Clooney Foundation’s Global Impact and Local Partnerships
The discussion extended beyond domestic concerns to include the TrialWatch initiative of the Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ), a global organization co-founded by the Clooneys. CFJ provides vital free legal aid and engages in monitoring to defend freedom of speech and women’s rights across more than 40 countries worldwide.
TrialWatch stands out as the first international initiative dedicated to monitoring the criminal trials of journalists globally. Its primary objectives are to expose unfair judicial proceedings and to challenge laws that are being misused to suppress legitimate free expression. This critical work includes an ongoing local partnership in the Philippines with the Ateneo de Manila University Law School and Columbia Law School, specifically focusing on monitoring the trials of Filipino journalists Mary Anne Krueger and Frenchie Mae Cumpio.
CFJ’s extensive network involves partnerships with 35 law firms and 19 law schools across the globe, including those in neighboring nations like Indonesia and Thailand. The foundation’s high-profile Board includes influential figures such as the president of Microsoft, the editor of The Economist, and Nobel laureate Denis Mukwege, underscoring its significant international credibility. In the past five years alone, CFJ’s efforts have contributed to the freedom of over a hundred journalists and advocates and aided thousands of women in defending their legal rights in court.
🤖 Looking to the Future: AI and Access to Justice
Further demonstrating a commitment to long-term systemic change, Ms. Clooney shared plans for future collaboration in the legal and technological sphere. She announced upcoming meetings with the deans of the Ateneo de Manila University Law School and the University of the Philippines College of Law.
These discussions will explore a potential partnership with the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice, an organization she co-founded with Professor Philippa Webb. The focus of this potential collaboration is pioneering: leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance and increase access to justice for women and journalists within the Philippines, offering a glimpse into how technological innovation can be harnessed to protect fundamental human rights.
The high-profile visit is set to culminate on Sunday, where Amal Clooney will inaugurate the Social Good Summit with a keynote address on the global challenges facing free speech and civil liberties. She will then be joined by her husband George for a highly anticipated sit-down Q&A with Maria Ressa, turning the spotlight onto how international figures and local heroes can collectively safeguard democratic principles in an increasingly complex world.
