Political Risk:
Moderate
Score:
50/100
Defence and Security Policy and Policy Transparency
Q1
58/100
Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?
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There are national defence and security committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives which have oversight functions covered by the Philippine…
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The Legislature is mandated to review defence policy, including through formal processes such as the Defence Secretary’s attendance of hearings on budget proposals [1].…
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The Philippine Legislature continues to occasionally raise defence-related concerns, including concerns over funding sources, items in the defence budget, or specific actions such as…
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Q2
58/100
Does the country have an identifiable and effective parliamentary defence and security committee (or similar such organisations) to exercise oversight?
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In both houses of Congress there are oversight committees responsible for scrutinising and demanding information on different aspects of the defence department such as…
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An interviewed Member of the House of Representatives has stated that, while committee members have some degree of knowledge on defence and security, there…
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The committee can review the implementation of existing defence and security policy with respect to important events. The decision to review is dependent on…
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By enacting an annual General Appropriations Act, Congress is able to mandate officials from the security sector, as well as other oversight institutions in…
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Congress is generally empowerd by laws and its own rules to perform oversight [1]. Both chambers (the House and Senate) may conduct formal inquiries…
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The defence department internally evaluates all proposals brought forward by Congress; however, due to political influence, this does not happen regularly. For example, at…
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Q3
44/100
Is the country’s national defence policy or national security strategy debated and publicly available?
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The National Security Policy (NSP) and the National Security Strategy of 2018 documents contain a statement of principles which sets out the strategic goals…
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The issues and aspirations set out in the Philippines’ defence policy and defence strategy are modest and short-term [1, 2]. Both are geared towards…
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The AFP established a Multi-Sectoral Governance Council (MSGC) which, composed of members from business, academia and civil society, is tasked with guiding the military…
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The national security policy and security strategy of the current administration were published ten months and two years ago respectively after the President took…
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Q4
58/100
Do defence and security institutions have a policy, or evidence, of openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) when dealing with issues of corruption?
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The Philippine Constitution specifies that government institutions, including those in the defence and security sector, should be open to engaging other non-governmental actors which…
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Protections are enjoyed but access and freedoms are limited and security continues to be an issue in some cases [1]. Rights groups including CIVICUS…
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CSO engagement occurs but not with consistent depth and intensity, including with respect to corruption-related issues more directly [1, 2]. The armed forces has…
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Q5
75/100
Has the country signed up to the following international anti-corruption instruments: UNCAC and the OECD Convention?
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Q6
50/100
Is there evidence of regular, active public debate on issues of defence? If yes, does the government participate in this debate?
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There is wider public discussion and debate on defence issues, but this is often limited to broad issues (for example the balance between internal…
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Government engagement in public discourse involves media briefings tied to major events, where wide-ranging questions are clarified. There is occassional participation in think tank…
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Q7
88/100
Does the country have an openly stated and effectively implemented anti-corruption policy for the defence sector?
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The Philippines has several anti-corruption policies that applies to the defense sector. These include the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, An Act Defining and…
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Philippine Defence Transformation Roadmap (PDTR) 2028 is a strategic plan that investigates the performance, governance, and systems of the defence sector [1, 2]. The…
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Q8
33/100
Are there independent, well-resourced, and effective institutions within defence and security tasked with building integrity and countering corruption?
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Units are in place, including the Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA), Office of the Judge Advocate General (OTJAG), and the Inspector…
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The Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability are under the chain of command of the Armed…
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Staff within the units, especially in the OESPA that evaluates the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) of military personnel understand the corruption…
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Q9
NS/100
Does the public trust the institutions of defence and security to tackle the issue of bribery and corruption in their establishments?
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This indicator is not assigned a score in the GDI. According to public polls, trust in the defence institutions has increased since 2016, especially…
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Q10
75/100
Are there regular assessments of the areas of greatest corruption risk for ministry and armed forces personnel, and are the findings used as inputs to the anti-corruption policy?
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The Philippine Defence Transformation Roadmap (PDTR) 2028 was formulated to carry on the institutionalisation of the reform measures identified in the Philippine Defence Reform…
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Using the Institute for Solidarity in Asia’s Performance Governance System, the timeline of the assessment is based on how the armed forces and its…
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The armed forces has established a multi-sectoral governance council (MSGC) composed of members from business, academia and civil society to guide the armed forces…
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Defence Budgets
Q11
67/100
Does the country have a process for acquisition planning that involves clear oversight, and is it publicly available?
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Programme planning and the procurement cycle are conducted in accordance with the Defence System of Management (DSOM), which treats strategic planning, capability assessment, acquisition…
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Improvements have been made but, according to media reports, some information is still either excluded or not disclosed in a timely fashion [1, 2].…
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Congress serves as the oversight committee to monitor and oversee the implementation of the AFP modernisation and development programme [1]. The committee is mandated…
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Q12
100/100
Is the defence budget transparent, showing key items of expenditure? And it is provided to the legislature in a timely fashion?
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Budgets and financial reports are publicly available online, including in approved General Appropriations Acts with previous reports available as well. The budget provides details,…
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In accordance with the annual budget cycle set out by the DBM, the Legislature usually has more than two months to deliberate before the…
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Q13
50/100
Is there a legislative committee (or other appropriate body) responsible for defence budget scrutiny and analysis in an effective way?
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Scrutiny is chiefly in the hands of the House and Senate Committee on Appropriations and other committees and interested congressional members who have the…
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Periodic concerns are raised on specific line items in the budget, but amendments of defence budgets during the period in question were limited and…
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Q14
50/100
Is the approved defence budget made publicly available? In practice, can citizens, civil society, and the media obtain detailed information on the defence budget?
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The defence budget is published and made available, including through the General Appropriations Act (GAA); however explanations are minimal and inaccessible to non-experts [1,…
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While most budget areas are published with some level of detail, oversight by members of Congress does exist [1, 2]; certain areas of the…
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Defence budget hearings are open to the public and the media and citizens can watch the proceedings online [1]. Citizens can also send information…
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Q15
42/100
Are sources of defence income other than from central government allocation (from equipment sales or property disposal, for example) published and scrutinised?
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Publication of income sources is limited and selective. Proceeds from the properties being disposed by the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) go…
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Proceeds from asset disposal through the BCDA are subject to the scrutiny and independent review of the Commission on Audit [1, 2]. The Internal…
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Public scrutiny exists, including by the media and CSOs, but is not always in-depth or consistent; this is in part due to the lack…
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Q16
0/100
Is there an effective internal audit process for defence ministry expenditure (that is, for example, transparent, conducted by appropriately skilled individuals, and subject to parliamentary oversight)?
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The Internal Audit Unit does not review ongoing defence expenditures; instead, its role is to evaluate whether or not internal control components are well-designed…
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This indicator is marked ‘Not Applicable’ as the Internal Audit Unit does not review ongoing defense expenditures [1].
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This indicator is marked ‘Not Applicable’ as the Internal Audit Unit does not review ongoing defense expenditures [1].
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This indicator is marked ‘Not Applicable’ as the Internal Audit Unit does not review ongoing defense expenditures [1].
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Q17
56/100
Is there effective and transparent external auditing of military defence expenditure?
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External auditing is primarily done by the Commission on Audit (COA) [1, 2]. Based on the 1978 State Audit Code of the Philippines, the…
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In terms of defining the scope and methods of its auditing and examination procedures, the COA has exclusive authority, although it does have to…
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Once released by the COA, the Annual Audit Report is published online. However the report excludes the working papers used to produce audit reports…
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According to a transmittal letter addressed to the Defence Secretary by the COA in April 2018, six out of 41 of the 2017 recommendations…
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Nexus of Defence and National Assets
Q18
45/100
Is there evidence that the country’s defence institutions have controlling or financial interests in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource exploitation and, if so, are these interests publicly stated and subject to scrutiny?
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There is no prohibition against military involvment in natural resource extraction. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for instance is a development corporation…
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The Defence Department is involved in businesses relating to the country’s natural resources, but activity is regulated [1,2]. As noted in 18A, the BCDA…
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The current Environment and Natural Resources Secretary is a retired military officer who has been criticised for protecting big mining companies [1]. Although this…
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The interests of the defence institution are publicly declared such as the list of properties that are available for lease and some information on…
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Using a 2017 Commission on Audit report and a statement by the Chair of the AFP’s Joint Chiefs [1], a member of Congress filed…
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Organised Crime
Q19
0/100
Is there evidence, for example through media investigations or prosecution reports, of a penetration of organised crime into the defence and security sector? If no, is there evidence that the government is alert and prepared for this risk?
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Repeated reports have surfaced about links between the Philippine military and organised syndicates both within the country and abroad [1, 2]. One report indicated…
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Awareness of the problem is evident but, beyond occassional remarks regarding the overall state of the problem or periodic crackdowns of individual cases, there…
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Q20
67/100
Is there policing to investigate corruption and organised crime within the defence services and is there evidence of the effectiveness of this policing?
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There is a Provost Marshall unit in each of the services within the AFP tasked with investigating complaints linked to administrative cases [1]. Complaints…
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The 1987 Constitution made the Office of the Ombudsman a fiscally autonomous body [1] but, in its 2020 proposed budget, the office’s anti-corruption enforcement…
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Undue political influence from the executive fast-tracks the investigation of cases. For example, upon receipt of a complaint from the Office of the President,…
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Control of Intelligence Services
Q21
25/100
Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?
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The Senate’s 18th Congress created a Select Oversight Committee on Intelligence and Confidential Funds, Programmes and Activities [1]. The committee’s powers and functions include:…
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Though oversight exists, it is uneven and limited [1, 2]. The COA admitted it was having difficulty tracing intelligence budgets [3]. The Select Committee…
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Q22
33/100
Are senior positions within the intelligence services filled on the basis of objective selection criteria, and are appointees subject to investigation of their suitability and prior conduct?
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Military officers appointed to senior intelligence services should be clear of human rights violations and are subject to investigation of their suitability for the…
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While the AFP Board of Generals pays particular attention to background and experience (e.g. schooling, operation achievements) of the names it recommends to the…
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The vetting process is done internally by the Board of Generals then endorsed by the Defense Secretary before submitting to the President for approval.…
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Export Controls
Q23
50/100
Does the government have a well-scrutinised process for arms export decisions that aligns with Articles 7.1.iv, 11.5, and 15.6 of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)?
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The Philippines has signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) but has yet to ratify it [1]. To support the ratification process, the country has…
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This indicator is marked ‘Not Applicable’ as the Philippines has signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) but has yet to ratify it [1] [2].
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This indicator is marked ‘Not Applicable’ as the Philippines is not an arms exporter [1] [2].
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Lobbying in Defence
Republic Act 1827, An Act to Regulate Lobbying in the Congress of the Philippines and in the Commission on Appointments defines lobbying as the…
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As the Lobbying Law is poorly implemented, details of interactions by public officials or conflict of interests that have been identified are either not…
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A lobbyist must register their name, the business address of their principal and the subject or subjects of legislation or pending appointment to which…
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The legislation does not specifically identify an oversight entity. The individuals who control the records and lobbying activities are the Secretaries of the Houses…
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