A continuing revolution

Three decades ago, millions of Filipinos took to the streets to seek the seemingly impossible: the ouster of a corrupt conjugal dictatorship. Since then, efforts to nurture the fragile, hard-won democracy have been marred by a long string of corruption scandals and continuing gross human rights violations.

The restoration of democracy did not put an end to torture, enforced disappearances and summary executions, including those targeting left-leaning and environmental activists, journalists and legal professionals. Dictator Ferdinand Marcos now rests in peace, as he wished, in a cemetery for heroes. His clan and that of his widow Imelda Romualdez Marcos are back in power.

As the nation marks 32 years since the dictatorship collapsed from the miracle of people power, the nation has slipped further in the global Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International. The International Criminal Court has launched a preliminary examination of the human rights situation in the Philippines under President Duterte.

From 95th out of 168 countries included in the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2015, the Philippines slipped to 101st out of 176 in 2016, and fell to 111th among 180 countries last year. Transparency International did note that a majority of countries were moving too slowly in fighting corruption. Instead of comparing the Philippines with those moving slowly, however, the country should aspire to catch up with the better performers in the CPI.

There has to be a connection between national prosperity and the absence of corruption. Countries that have consistently ranked high in the CPI are also among the world’s most advanced economies. They also place high in the happiness index, which measures quality of life indicators. Studies have shown the steep economic cost of corruption, with public funds going to the pockets of only a handful of individuals instead of being used for development and poverty alleviation programs.

A desire to end the kleptocracy of the Marcos dictatorship as well as the systematic violations of human rights fueled the 1986 people power revolution. Today there are Filipinos who take for granted the hard-won freedoms that they have enjoyed for 32 years now. But democracy, even in advanced economies, is always a work in progress. With recent developments, the nation cannot be reminded often enough that vigilance is the price of freedom. And the nation cannot afford to forget the lessons of the dictatorship, and the peaceful revolt that put an end to it.