President Rodrigo Duterte has turned the Philippines into an increasingly authoritarian political system, maintaining a formal democratic shell. He increased his power by oppressing the opposition and sidelining checks and balances. The political influence of the military and the police increased, and human rights and civil liberties declined dramatically.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, GDP growth decreased. The global outbreak of the pandemic hit the Philippines hard, and 2020 saw a negative GDP growth rate of 9.5%. While the country is still regarded as a promising and stable emerging market, poverty remains high.
President Duterte was not able to implement long-overdue reforms of the political system. The attempt to draft a new constitution failed due to a lack of political will. No major changes in economic policies have been overseen, and the government applied a heavy-handed security approach regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
