Philippines slides down in world freedom rankings

WASHINGTON – The Philippines dropped marginally in the 2018 world freedom rankings and was rated “partly free,” the same classification the country received in previous years.

In its Freedom in the World 2018 report on political rights and civil liberties released on Tuesday, Freedom House said democracy was under assault and in retreat around the globe.

The Philippines scored three points each for political rights and civil liberties (one point represents the most free and seven the least free) and its aggregate score dropped to 62 from 63 in 2016 and 65 in 2015.

There was no immediate explanation for the continuing decline in the Philippines’ overall score.

In its last report, Freedom House said the Philippines might be approaching a turning point in its democratic trajectory due to thousands of extrajudicial killings carried out as part of President Duterte’s war on drugs.

Freedom House is a US-based non-governmental organization committed to the expansion of democracy around the world.

Of 195 countries assessed in the 2018 report, 88 were rated free, 58 partly free and 49 not free.

Finland, Norway and Sweden topped the list of free countries scoring 100 points each. Canada had 99 points, Australia and New Zealand 98 points each and the United States scored 86 points.

While US institutions like the press and the judiciary have remained resilient in the face of unprecedented attacks from President Donald Trump, the attacks could ultimately leave them weakened with serious implications for the health of US democracy and America’s place in the world, the report said.