Philippines Slams Freedom House for Democracy Downgrade

MANILA — Philippine Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye decried today unfounded surveys purporting to show the decline of democracy in the Philippines, saying Filipinos know best that democracy lives and reigns in the country.

Bunye was reacting to the survey released by New York-based Freedom House which downgraded the Philippines from a free democracy to partly-free, apparently because of the reports on unexplained killings in the country.

In a statement, Bunye said the Philippines has a vibrant democracy as demonstrated by the elections last year and the ongoing preparations of potential candidates for the 2010 elections.

“We should be wary of private foreign groups that claim to be expert watchdogs on freedom and democracy. Our people know best. We held elections last year and many potential candidates have been preparing for the 2010 elections even this early. These are examples of the vibrancy of our democracy,” Bunye said.

He pointed out that the Philippines has a vibrant and free media, very vocal Congress, and constitutional institutions that are very much functioning — all indicators of a full-functioning democracy.

“The New York-based Freedom House should have at the very least sought the government’s side to verify information they have on the Philippines. If they had, they would have known that we have a free press, a pro-active Congress, and constitutional processes and principles that uphold human rights,” Bunye said.

The Malacanang official said Filipinos are the experts on the Philippines and not foreign survey groups.

“What we do know and must always remember is that we Filipinos are the best experts on the Philippines. All the rest merely parachute in and out, while passing off hasty, unfounded conclusions as expert opinions or gospel truth. We live in a free society. And that is the undeniable truth,” Bunye said.

Statement of Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye on Freedom House

We should be wary of private foreign groups that claim to be expert watchdogs on freedom and democracy.

Our people know best.

We held elections last year and many potential candidates have been preparing for the 2010 elections even this early.

These are examples of the vibrancy of our democracy.

Let us be undaunted by outside forces that rely on propaganda rather than systematic and thorough research and consultations to underpin their statements.

The New York-based Freedom House should have at the very least sought the government�s side to verify information they have on the Philippines.

If they had, they would have known that we have a free press, a pro-active Congress, and constitutional processes and principles that uphold human rights.

We don�t know who funds foreign groups such as Freedom House, nor were we told about their research procedures.

What we do know and must always remember is that we Filipinos are the best experts on the Philippines.

All the rest merely parachute in and out, while passing off hasty, unfounded conclusions as expert opinions or gospel truth.

We live in a free society.

And that is the undeniable truth.