Answer:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Philippines is a multi-party, constitutional republic with a bicameral
legislature. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, elected in May 2016, began his
constitutionally limited six-year term in June 2016. The 2016 presidential election
was generally seen as free and fair. Barangay (village) and youth council elections
originally scheduled for 2016 were twice postponed but ultimately held in May.
These, too, were generally free and fair, although there were reports of violence
and vote buying.
Civilian control over the Philippine National Police (PNP) continued to improve
but was not fully effective.
Extrajudicial killings have been the chief human rights concern in the country for
many years and, after a sharp rise with the onset of the antidrug campaign in 2016,
they continued in the reporting year, albeit at a lower level. From January to
September 29, media chronicled 673 deaths in police operations suspected to be
connected with the government’s antidrug campaign. The PNP Internal Affairs
Service (IAS) is required to investigate all deaths or injuries committed in the
conduct of a police operation. IAS claimed it began investigations of all reported
extrajudicial killings. There were no reports that civilian control over other
security forces was inadequate.
Human rights issues included unlawful or arbitrary killings by security forces,
vigilantes, and others allegedly connected to the government, and by insurgents;
forced disappearance; torture; arbitrary detention; harsh and life-threatening prison
conditions; political prisoners; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy;
criminal libel; killings of and threats against journalists; official corruption and
abuse of power; and the use of forced and child labor.
The government investigated a limited number of reported human rights abuses,
including abuses by its own forces, paramilitaries, and insurgent and terrorist
groups. Concerns about police impunity increased significantly following the
sharp increase in killings by police in 2016. President Duterte publicly rejected
criticism of alleged police killings, but said authorities would investigate any
actions taken outside the rule of law. Significant concerns persisted about
impunity of civilian national and local government officials and powerful business
Explanation:
done
