‘Corruption undermining RP democracy’
June 28, 2008
“The Republic of the Philippines has a long tradition of democracy, but
it remains vulnerable to political turmoil; recurring attempts to use
extra-constitutional means to resolve leadership crises; human rights
abuses; and concerns about credibility of elections. Corruption and weak rule of law continue to be underlying factors exacerbating this vulnerability,” said the Advancing Freedom and Democracy Report released by the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor late last month.
But in the Philippines, Malacanang welcomed the State Department report. It said the report hailed “the Philippine government’s adherence to democracy and freedom, respect for human rights and stepped up efforts to end extrajudicial killings and disappearances.” The report, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said, “recognizes our continuing commitment and our indisputable gains in pursuing freedom, democracy and human rights.”
The report, he added, “identifies the remaining challenges that face us
as a nation and reiterates the commitment of the American government to
assist and stand by us. The Report pinpoints and emphasizes the burden
of history that we must overcome.”
The State Department report cited the government’s successes and the
elements that have made those achievements possible, including a long
tradition of democracy, generally free elections with high voter
turnout, 99 percent of seats in the 2007 national and local elections
filled without controversy.
Also prominently mentioned in the report was the government’s
willingness to work with civil society in fighting corruption.
Bunye said that the “vast majority of the 881-word Philippine portion of
the report focuses on the many ways the United States is working with us
to triumph over the history and culture of violence that have plagued
our country for decades.”
The Economist Group based in London, meanwhile said corruption allegations have made the political authority of President Arroyo fragile, making it more difficult for the government to pursue its reform agenda in the final two years of her tenure.
The State Department took note of the 2007 national and local elections in May, which was described by the State Department as a ‘continuing commitment” to
the country’s democratic process due to a high voter turnout and because
‘99 percent of the 17,000 seats available nationwide were filled without
controversy.’ Despite this, it observed that the elections were still
‘marred by violence and fraud, as in past years.”
“Elections are generally free and fair but have historically included
numerous killings of campaign workers and even candidates, as well as
recurrent fraud allegations” it said.
On human rights, the report said although the government has intensified its efforts to investigate and prosecute the killings of left-wing militants, extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances remain a concern to the US government.
“The Philippines has struggled with EJKs (extra-judicial killings) and
forced disappearances for most of its modern history. US government
officials use every opportunity to convey the message that these
killings and disappearances must cease and must be thoroughly
investigated and prosecuted,” the report said.
The State Department however has vowed to continue strengthening the
Country’s democratic institutions, promote human rights and support free
and fair elections.
The State Department said Washington will address these issues by
providing development assistance programs for government and civil
society partners to develop the policies and tools necessary “for a
freer, fairer, and more democratic system set within the framework of
the rule of law and respect for human rights.”
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