Philippines ranks 51st out of 163 countries in impunity index

The Philippines placed 51st out of 163 countries in the “Atlas of Impunity” or the Impunity Index, which measures the “abuse of power enabled by a lack of accountability.”

The atlas tracks the abuse of power across five key societal dimensions – unaccountable governance, abuse of human rights, conflict, economic exploitation, and environmental degradation, according to its website.

It was published by the global political risk firm Eurasia Group with David Miliband and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

The Philippines received an overall score of 2.83 out of 5, where 5 is the greatest level of impunity, the report said.

It has the fourth worst score among 10 Southeast Asian countries, after Myanmar with 3.85, Cambodia with 3.26, and Laos with 3.05.

Of the five dimensions, the report showed that Philippines placed the lowest in the abuse of human rights, ranking 20th with 3.28 out of 5.

It placed 52nd in the area of environmental degradation with 3.54 score and 63rd as to unaccountable governance with 3.30 score.

The country ranked 56th in economic exploitation with 2.38 score, and 84th place in conflict and violence with 1.89.

Of the 10 Southeast Asian countries included in the report, Singapore grabbed the top spot with 1.5 score ranking 128th, followed by Timor-Leste with 2.15 placing 103rd, Malaysia with 2.34 ranking 85th, and Indonesia with 2.38 ranking 84th.

Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen top this year’s list with the highest impunity score, with Finland, Denmark, and Sweden ranking with the lowest impunity scores.

The atlas scores and ranks the level of impunity in 163 countries and provides partial, indicative scoring for another 34.

The report defined impunity as the “exercise of power without accountability, which becomes, in its starkest form, the commission of crimes without punishment.”

“The atlas is intended to provide a practical and accessible tool to draw attention to abuses of power and press policymakers for change. The report and accompanying data aim to shine a light on the norms and practices that perpetuate impunity and hinder accountability around the world,” it said.

GMA News sought comment from the Palace and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on the report but has yet to receive as response as of this posting.

Remulla earlier said that there is no culture of impunity in the Philippines.

“Let me assure this council and partners and civil society and reiterate, there is no culture of impunity in the Philippines. We are doubling our efforts to ensure that individuals who breach the bounds of the law, state actors included,” Remulla said in his speech during the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council last March 1.–LDF, GMA Integrated News