Philippines’ civic space rating downgraded to ‘repressed’

Global civic society alliance CIVICUS has downgraded the Philippines' civic space rating from "obstructed" to "repressed" amid attacks on human rights defenders and journalists and the passage of a "problematic" new anti-terrorism law.

The CIVICUS Monitor, a global research collaboration that rates and tracks respect for fundamental freedoms in 196 countries, counted the Philippines among 44 countries, including Cambodia, Venezuela and Russia, with a "repressed" rating in its 2020 People Power Under Attack report.

A "repressed" civic space rating means democratic freedoms like the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, are "severely restricted," CIVICUS said.

“The Duterte government has incrementally chipped away at civic freedoms since it came to power in 2016 but this has further eroded over the last year," said Josef Benedict, Asia Pacific civic space researcher for the CIVICUS Monitor.

"In 2020, we have seen systematic intimidation, attacks and vilification of civil society and activists, an increased crackdown on press freedoms and a pervasive culture of impunity take root,” he said.

The CIVICUS monitor cited as examples of a worsening civic space situation the murders of activists Randall Echanis and Zara Alvarez last August, the arrest and imprisonment of human rights defenders, the shutdown of broadcast network ABS-CBN in May, and the conviction of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa in June.

It also took note of the enactment of the anti-terrorism law, whose critics fear it could be used by the government to legitimize attacks against human rights workers and the opposition. The law has been challenged in dozens of petitions before the Philippine Supreme Court.

The research group also cited a UN human rights office report released June 2020 which found near impunity for extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions in the Philippines.

"The CIVICUS Monitor is extremely concerned about attacks on human rights defenders and journalists, the vilification and criminalisation of activists, the assault on press freedom and a new draconian anti-terror law," Benedict said.

As part of its work with the UN, the Philippine government through the Department of Justice is hosting a human rights summit this week where President Rodrigo Duterte affirmed the country's commitment to fulfilling its human rights obligations.

But human rights group said the summit is taking place against a backdrop of continuing human rights violations. They have repeatedly called for an international investigation into the rights situation in the Philippines. — BM, GMA News