Corruption Perception Index: Phl ranks 101st

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines maintained its score in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index conducted by Berlin-based Transparency International.

But the Philippines’ ranking dropped six notches from 95th in 2015 to 101st in 2016, as the number of countries covered by the report increased from 168 to 176.

The country shared 101st place with Gabon, Niger, Peru, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Philippines still scored 35 out of 100.

The index ranked 176 countries on a scale of 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).

In the 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index, a total 122 countries finished with a score below 50, which reflects a “serious corruption problem,” Transparency International chairman José Ugaz said in a statement.

The global average score is a “paltry” 43, indicating endemic corruption in a country’s public sector.

The group estimates that “corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost developing countries $1.26 trillion per year.”

Denmark and New Zealand performed best with scores of 90, closely followed by Finland (89) and Sweden (88).

For the 10th year running, Somalia is the worst performer on the index, this year scoring only 10.

South Sudan is second to bottom with a score of 11, followed by North Korea (12) and Syria (13).

“Countries at the bottom of the index are characterized by widespread impunity for corruption, poor governance and weak institutions,” the group said.

Impacts of EJK

Transparency International said this year’s results highlight the connection between corruption and inequality, which feed off each other to create a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society and unequal distribution of wealth.

The interplay of corruption and inequality also feeds populism, the group said.

“When traditional politicians fail to tackle corruption, people grow cynical. Increasingly, people are turning to populist leaders who promise to break the cycle of corruption and privilege. Yet this is likely to exacerbate – rather than resolve – the tensions that fed the populist surge in the first place,” it said.