10 notches drop

More countries improved their scores in the 2015 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), showing that people can work together to succeed in the battle against corruption.

But the Philippines dropped 10 notches in the CPI, from 85th to 95th out of 186 countries, as reported by global watchdog Transparency International.

Palace countered the latest international survey, saying that reality is more important than perception. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.  noted the government is more concerned about sustaining the reality of a well-established framework for good governance. He further said the administration has instituted major reforms that have strengthened the governance structure of our country such as initiating mandatory requirement to all government agencies to maintain websites that will contain vital information on major decisions made by various departments and agencies that are accessible to the public.

According to Guillermo Luz, co-chairman of the National Competitiveness Council, the Philippines’ declined score was not entirely linked to the administration but could have been dented by some corruption scandals.

The said index was based on expert opinion, according to Transparency International.

In the Southeast Asian region, the CPI list showed the Philippines behind Singapore, 8th; Hong Kong and Japan, 18th; Taiwan, 30th; South Korea, 37th; Malaysia 54th; Thailand and India, 76th; China and Sri Lanka, 83th; and Indonesia, 88th.

The Philippines scored only 35 out of possible 100 among 168 countries.

The score of zero is the most corrupt and 100 the least corrupt.

Corruption scandals have erupted at the Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Management, the Philippine National Police, and local government units (LGUs).

Enrile blames Aquino

President Benigno Aquino Jr. compartmentalized the planning and execution of Oplan Exodus to himself and dismissed Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Alan Purisima which resulted in the massacre of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) soldiers, as Senator Juan Ponce Enrile blamed the President for their deaths.

Enrile said the compartmentalization of the mission left other key officials out of the loop and unable to effectively respond to the slaughter of SAF personnel.

Enrile accused President Aquino of deliberately hiding behind Purisima to shield himself from any responsibility and accountability.

Senate President Frank Drilon, Senator TG Guingona and Senator Grace Poe defended the President.

Enrile highlighted the facts that the President was the approving authority of Oplan Exodus where he approved the date of operation and even directed General Getulio Napeñas to increase the number of troops to implement the operation.

Lowest GDP in 5 years

The Philippines registered a 5.8 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2015, the lowest in the five years of the Aquino administration.

The 4th Quarter GDP figure came in at 6.3 percent, lower than the 7-8 percent target of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts a 6.2 percent GDP growth rate for 2016.

Former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the 5.8 percent GDP growth for the entire year of 2015 was non-inclusive and widely missed the government’s original target of 7-8 percent GDP growth.

“Agriculture growth was a flat negative 0.02 percent which casts doubt on the inclusiveness of the economy’s below target performance. About one third of the employed came from the sector and more than half of the poor rely on agriculture,” Diokno said.

Diokno also noted the slide of the industrial sector growth from a peak of 9.2  percent in 2013 to 5.9 percent in 2015.

HRW hits Aquino

In its world report 2016, Human Rights Watch (HRW), which reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries, lamented that there has been little accountability for the killings of indigenous leaders, activists and journalists, and other serious abuses during the Aquino administration. HRW also slammed the administration for the lack of successful prosecutions to prevent an upsurge of abuses in the future.

Opposition lawmakers agreed with the HRW findings.

“Since his election, President Aquino promised a rights-respecting administration for which he has sadly been able to deliver,” said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director for HRW.

In the first eight months of 2015, military and para-military groups have been accused of killing more than a dozen tribal leaders and tribal community members.

Nine journalists were killed in 2015 – three of them over 10 days in August. Only one suspect has been apprehended for these attacks on journalists.

HRW added that children throughout the country face a wide range of human rights abuses.

“Aquino has failed to make the institutional reforms to ensure a lasting positive human rights legacy,” Kine said.

Tidbits

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. declared it is impossible to pass the BBL. Senate President Frank Drilon also said it is now extremely difficult for the Senate to approve the BBL. The MILF has only itself to blame as the Mamasapano massacre changed the mind of many legislators to support the bill.