Among the gut issues that directly affect the ordinary
people in many countries in the world is the peace and order situation, their
freedom from criminality and terrorism, freedom from thieves, abductors and
murderers.
In the Philippines, this situation is graphically
represented by a huge number of private security guards almost everywhere: in
schools and universities, office buildings and residential villages, malls and
shops, banks and factories, airports and seaports, farms and resorts, and many
other places.
This situation implies that people distrust the police,
army, and other government enforcement agencies in protecting them and their
private property. The peace and order function of the state has been greatly
privatized a long time ago, despite the continued presence of huge and
heavily-armed government armed forces and police.
Besides the huge number of private and armed security
personnel, what are the other indicators that peace and order situation in the
Philippines need major improvement?
The World Justice Project (WJP) has the answer in its
annual Rule of Law Index.
Covering 102 countries, the Rule of Law (RoL) Index 2015
Report has used over 100,000 household and 2,400 expert surveys to measure how
the RoL is experienced in practical, everyday situations by ordinary people
around the world.
RoL is based and defined by the WJP on four universal
principles:
1. The government and its officials and agents as well as
individuals and private entities are accountable under the law.
2. The laws are clear, publicized, stable, and just; are
applied evenly; and protect fundamental rights, including the security of
persons and property.
3. The process by which the laws are enacted,
administered, and enforced is accessible, fair, and efficient.
4. Justice is delivered timely by competent, ethical, and
independent representatives and neutrals who are of sufficient number, have
adequate resources, and reflect the make up of the communities they serve.
Eight factors were considered in constructing the RoL
index:
(1) Constraints on Government Powers; (2) Absence of
Corruption; (3) Open Government; (4) Fundamental Rights; (5) Order and
Security; (6) Effective Regulatory enforcement; (7) Civil Justice; and (8)
Criminal Justice.
For the specific purpose of this paper, only the
components of Factors #5 and #8 will be shown. The country codes below
represent the following: Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand,
Vietnam, Cambodia; South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, China. (See Table)
The Philippines ranked good in Factor #5, along with
other Asian countries mentioned above. Perhaps the presence of so many private
security agencies has contributed to the overall improvement in order and
security.
The country though scored low in Factor #8 where the
government’s justice, police and correctional agencies are directly involved.
Presidential, congressional, and local candidates, as
well as their political parties and officials, should make it a priority to
improve the country’s criminal justice system. An improvement in this area
should mean higher confidence and respect of government and its various
institutions.
A poor household may get free education, free health
care,, a monthly cash transfer from the government and other subsidy programs.
But of what use are these welfare programs if the same household would have one
or more family members abducted, raped, or even murdered? Or the small parcel
of land it has inherited or acquired after years of savings was grabbed by some
influential individuals and families?
Here’s to hoping that the security and order, the
criminal justice system of the country will greatly improved in the years to
come.
Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the head of Minimal
Government Thinkers, Inc., and a Fellow of Stratbase-Albert del Rosario
Institute (ADRi). minimalgovernment@gmail.com
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See also:
BWorld 33, Computing rise in tax revenues if rates are cut, December 17, 2015
BWorld 34, Solar power and supply instability, December 24, 2015
BWorld 35, Inter-island shipping and the PPA, Coast Guard, December 25, 2015
Rule of Law 11: RoL Index, October 15, 2010
Rule of Law 23: RoL Index 2014 by the World Justice Project, July 02, 2014
Rule of Law 24: Policemen as Violators of Traffic Rules, September 15, 2014
Rule of Law 24: Policemen as Violators of Traffic Rules, September 15, 2014
Rule of Law 25: Corruption in Europe, December 21, 2014
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