Ang lahat, kabilang ang mga opisyal at kawani ng pamahalaan ay sakop ng batas--ito ang pinunto ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) kasunod ng “lumalalang” rule of law sa bansa.

Sa pahayag na nilabas ni Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia, giniit ng ng ahensya ang dati pang pagkabahala nito sa tumaas na bilang ng mga nasasawi sa illegal drug campaign; pagpaslang, panggigipit at censorship sa mga miyembro ng midya.

Binigyang-diin ng CHR, “the rule of law rests on the four principles of accountability: just law, open government, accessibility, and impartial justice.”

“Under the rule of law, all individuals, including the government are subject to the law and should be guided by its principles,” sabi ni De Guia.

National

50.78% examinees, pasado sa Nov. 2024 Licensure Exam for Agriculturists

Naglabas ng pahayag ang CHR kasunod ng ranking ng Pilipinas sa 2021 Rule of Law Index ng World Justice Project’s (WJP’s) kung saan ika-102 ang Pilipinas sa 139 mga bansa sa mundo sa pagsunod sa rule of law.

“Accountability is not only national in scope, but also seeks adherence to international agreements agreed upon by the state,” sabi ng CHR.

“While the country remains death penalty-free, legislative agendas to reintroduce capital punishment further mar our efforts to ensure obligation to international human rights law such as the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” dagdag ni De Guia.

Ayon sa ilang ulat, ang WJP Rule of Law Index na sakop ang 139 bansa ay base sa national surveys ng mahigit 138,000 pamilya, 4,200 legal practitioners at mga eksperto na susukat paanong nararanasan at tinitignan ang “rule of law” sa buong mundo.

Ang pinakamataas na score ng WJP’s ay 1 habang 0 ang posibleng pinakamababa. Sa pinakahuling ulat, nakakuha ang bansa ng overall score na 0.46 para sa rule of law, o tatlong bilang na mas mababa kumpara sa ranking ng bansa noong nakaraang taon.

Dagdag pa, sa mga bansa sa East Asia at Pacific Region, ika-13 ang Pilipinas sa 15 bansa sa Asya, ayon sa WJP.

Pagbabalik-tanaw ni De Guia: “We recall that in November of last year, the 2020 Gallup Global Law and Order report found, through randomized survey, the Philippines to be among the world’s safest countries. It may be hard to reconcile how a country is perceived to be safe by its citizens but rank low on another survey commissioned focusing on the rule of law. We cannot ignore that present realities on the ground coupled with the pandemic have changed the view of individuals.”

Sa gitna ng mababang rating, umaasa pa rin ang CHR sa liderato ni Philippine National Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar at Department of Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra.

“The Commission too will continue to do its part in exacting accountability for human rights violations,”sabi ni De Guia.

Jel Santos