Democracy deteriorating, say Philippine rights groups

MANILA: The continuing detention of Senator Leila de Lima and the increasing death toll of the governments bloody campaign against illegal drugs proves democracy is faltering in the Philippines, a human rights groups said.

Philippines has always been the beacon and lighthouse for democracy for many, many years but things have changed since last year, Wolfgang Heinze, director of Friedrich Naumann Foundation, said in a statement.

“There are a lot of worrying trends when we look at the number of killings, and also, when we look at media reports, it shows (the police dumping) bodies of (drug war victims) in Manila Bay,” he added.

The Philippines, Heinze said, used to be Southeast Asia’s flag-bearer of democracy for peacefully ending the 21-year rule of the late dictator, President Ferdinand Marcos, through the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Heinze said President Rodrigo Dutertes relentless attacks against the press, especially against the Inquirer, ABS-CBN, and Rappler also show democracy is deteriorating in the country.

“There seems to be difficulties in free expression of opinions in this country.

“There appears to be pressure on journalists,” Heinze said.

Duterte earlier threatened the Rufino-Prieto families, owner of the Inquirer Group, to be sued for economic sabotage over the use of the Mile Long property in Makati City, and accused Rappler of being foreign-owned.

He also warned that he will block ABS-CBNs franchise renewal for not airing his paid political ad and not returning the money.

Rose Trajano of iDefends secretariat, said Filipinos are slowly losing their freedom of expression for fear of uttering words that might earn the Presidents ire. — Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network