Philippines has worst impunity in the world: study

MANILA (UPDATED) - The Philippines has the worst level of impunity in the world due to threats of organized crime and Islamic State-inspired militants, a global study showed.

The 2017 Global Impunity Index released by the University of the Americas Puebla in Mexico showed that the Philippines had the highest level of impunity among 69 countries, with a score of 75.6.

India comes in at a close second with 70.94 points, followed by Cameroon (69.39 points), Mexico (69.21 points), and Peru (69.04 points).

Croatia, meanwhile, has the lowest impunity level with a score of 36.01 points, followed by Bulgaria (37.19 points), Slovenia (37.23 points), Sweden (39.15 points), and Norway (40.90 points).

“The Philippines is going through one of its most critical moments, due to the increase of violence related with organized crime and increased terrorist activities from local gangs linked to the Islamic State,” the report said.

The Philippine military in recent years has been plagued by terrorist activities in the southern island of Mindanao, most recent of which is the ongoing war in Marawi City, which has left more than 800 dead, including more than 100 soldiers.

Since assuming office, President Rodrigo Duterte has launched a nationwide war on drugs which has earned criticism from local and international human rights organizations.

Several rights groups have expressed concern over Duterte’s bloody anti-narcotics campaign headed by the police with its "Oplan Tokhang" program, wherein policemen knock at the doorsteps of suspected drug users and peddlers, and ask them to surrender.

The Duterte administration has defended the campaign, saying drug suspects killed in legitimate police operations put up violent resistance.

Latest police estimates placed the number of drug suspects slain in legitimate police operations at 3,800. Human rights groups meanwhile placed the figure at 13,000, which the administration has described as overblown.

The global index measures impunity levels worldwide and its direct effect on other issues such as inequality, corruption, and violence.

“High rates of impunity can lead to socioeconomic inequality, legal inequality, rule-of-law problems, insufficient economic development, difficulties to attract foreign investment and tourism, as well as an increase in human rights violations,” the study read.

The Center of Studies on Impunity and Justice (CESIJ) explained that impunity is a multidimensional phenomenon that goes beyond the analysis of crimes that could be punished, such as homicide.

Impunity, according to the CESIJ, has three major dimensions: security, justice, and human rights.

‘A LONG TIME PROBLEM’

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Chito Gascon said impunity has long been a problem in the Philippines and only gotten worse in time.

Gascon said the problem of impunity began with the martial law period of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos 45 years ago and continues to prevail under the Duterte administration.

“Lalo ngayon sa panahon ng administrasyong Duterte ay talagang nana[na]ig ang impunidad,” he said.

While impunity is usually associated with dictatorships, the Philippines was rated as having the worst level of impunity among democratic governments mainly due to flaws in the country’s justice system, Gascon said.

He said Duterte’s public statements may have empowered some law enforcers to violate the law since the President has assured them of his support as long as their actions are done in the performance of their duties.

“Although ang impunidad nagaganap sa ibang bagay o krimen, iba pang human rights violations… pero sa war on drugs libo-libo na ang napatay,” he said.

REFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT

To address the issue, Gascon called for reforms in law enforcement and the judiciary to ensure that criminals are punished.

“Dapat may long term view ng reforming ng law enforcement, ng judiciary, pero meron [rin] dapat political will,” he said.

Gascon added that Filipinos should also play a role in demanding justice and accountability.

“Tayo rin ay bahagi ng problema dahil 'di tayo tumitindig para ituro [na] ‘mali yan.’ Takot tayo mag-testify, minsan tayo rin nag-aareglo. Ganoong sistema ng pag-aareglo, [ang] resulta nito hinahayaan na lang natin maganap ang impunidad,” he said.

FOOTNOTE: Due to the nature and the procedure to report the information used to calculate the GII, there is a three-year gap between the publication year, 2017, and the most updated information, that for this edition corresponds to year 2014.