‘Partly free?’ PH vows improved political, civil rights

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a democracy and they’ll do what it takes to make sure civil and political rights, as mandated in the Constitution, are followed.

It was the promise the Palace made on Saturday, following the release of US-based non-governmental organization (NGO) Freedom House’s “Freedom in the World 2014” report.

According to the report, the Philippines is one of 59 countries deemed “partly free.”

“Kailangan umakyat pa rin ang ating ranking pagdating sa civil and political rights. Siyempre demokrasya tayo at gusto natin everybody takes full advantage of the [rights] accorded to them under our Constitution,” Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

(We have to improve our standing when it comes to civil and political rights. We are a democracy and we want everyone to take full advantage of the rights accorded to them under our Constitution.)

Valte did not give specifics on how the government would improve its global ranking, but added that among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines stood out in the report. Globally, 88 countries were tagged “free” while 48 were “not free.”

In Asia Pacific, 38% are considered “partly free,” including the Philippines.

Rating system 

Countries are rated according to their scores, ratings, and status.

Points are awarded based on 10 political rights indicators and 15 civil liberties indicators, according to Freedom House. Political rights are categorized into 3: electoral process, political pluralism and participation, functioning of government. Civil liberties, meanwhile, are grouped into 4: freedom of expression and relief, associational and organization rights, rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights. Countries can get a score of 0 to 4 for each indicator.

Two ratings are also assigned to each country, based on political rights and civil liberties, based on the scores from the indicators. The report gave the country 3 points out of 7 each when it came to political rights and civil liberties.

A country’s “Freedom Rating” is then taken from the average of its political rights and civil liberties ratings. “Partly free” countries have a score of 3 to 5.

A rating of 3, based on Freedom House’s study, means the country “moderately [protects]” political rights and civil liberties or “strongly [protects] some while neglecting others.”

Decline in Asia 

Notable declines in Asia Pacific included China which “became increasingly intolerant of dissent in 2013,” noted Freedom House. China’s courts in 2013 expanded a law that punishes “online rumors.” Human Rights Watch critcized the court’s interpretetion, saying “the government claims these new penalties focus only on malicious and libelous content, but critics of the government and whistleblowers are the real target.” 

Indonesia was downgraded from “free” to “partly free” due to a law that requires mass organizations, including NGOs, to register with the government. South Korea was downgraded in its political rights rating. South Korea has in place the National Security Law, which Amnesty International says “is used arbitrarily to curtail the right to freedom of expression and association, providing long sentences or the death penalty for loosely defined ‘anti-state’ activities.”

Last year was one of the worst for journalists in the Philippines, and the country was ranked the 7th most dangerous for reporters. – Rappler.com