A new study shows that many Filipinos think something is wrong with how democracy works in the country. In fact, almost 2 out of every 3 people—that’s 64%—said that Philippine democracy has problems.
This study was done by the Philippine Observatory on Democracy, a group made up of schools and civic organizations like Ateneo de Manila University and other Ateneo schools in the country. The results were shared by Dean Philip Arnold Tuaño from the Ateneo School of Government.
What Are the Problems?
When asked what they think is wrong with democracy in the country, most people said:
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Corruption (when government officials do dishonest things)
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Fake news and misinformation (when people spread lies or trick others using social media or the news)
In fact:
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67% said these are the biggest issues.
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49% said fake news alone is a serious problem.
Other problems mentioned include:
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Complicated government processes or bureaucracy (22%)
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Leaders giving jobs only to family and friends (nepotism, 21%)
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Leaders or institutions not being trustworthy (18%)
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Too much red tape—lots of unnecessary rules and delays (10%)
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Not enough honesty or openness from government (10%)
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Not protecting human rights (5%)
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People not being involved in decisions (1%)
Dean Tuaño explained that these problems show people are worried about whether their government is doing the right thing, and if the media can be trusted.
How Do Filipinos Feel About Democracy?
When asked how they see democracy in the country:
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Only 20% (or 2 out of every 10 people) believe the Philippines has a fully working democracy.
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10% (1 in 10 people) said they don’t understand democracy at all.
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4% said there’s no democracy in the Philippines.
What Do People Think of Past Presidents?
The study also asked people which Philippine presidents they believe helped democracy. Here’s what they said:
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62% think former President Rodrigo Duterte helped democracy.
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49% said the same about former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
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But both these leaders were also known for doing things that go against democracy.
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Marcos Sr. declared martial law and took away people’s freedoms.
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Duterte led a violent war on drugs that hurt many people’s rights.
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Here’s how other presidents scored:
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32% liked Fidel Ramos and Corazon Aquino for helping democracy.
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31% said current President Bongbong Marcos Jr. is good for democracy.
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27% said Joseph Estrada helped democracy.
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26% liked Benigno Aquino III and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
How Was the Study Done?
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The survey was done from December 2 to December 21, 2024.
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Researchers talked to 842 people, all aged 18 and older, through face-to-face interviews.
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There is a small chance of error in the results—about plus or minus 5.2%.
This study helps us understand what Filipinos think about their country’s democracy—and what they believe needs to be fixed to make it better.
