EDITORIAL - Elusive peace

Filipinos may be puzzled to be ranked a notch lower than Libya and, in Southeast Asia, ahead only of Myanmar in terms of peace. The Global Peace Index, however, rates countries not only in terms of wars and armed extremism but also external threats and violence arising from crimes and politics.

In the 2014 index drawn up by the Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace, culled from data provided by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the Philippines ranked 134th out of 162 countries in peace indicators. It was a five-notch slide for the country, and a long way from the rankings of its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Singapore, not surprisingly, garnered the best regional ranking at 25th, followed by Malaysia at 33rd, Laos at 38th, Vietnam at 45th, Indonesia at 54th, Timor Leste at 69th, Cambodia at 106th and Thailand at 126th. In the Asia-Pacific, New Zealand was rated the most peaceful nation, followed by Japan and Australia.

The Philippines slid in ranking despite the signing of a framework agreement for peace with the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front. With the index also basing assessments on “patron-client” relations, the country could slide further as the 2016 elections approach and political violence escalates as usual.

Filipinos have grown accustomed to a spike in political killings in every election season and the seemingly unending violence in the conflict areas of Mindanao. People are also used to daily reports of violent crime all over the country. We are reminded only that this is not supposed to be the usual state of affairs when foreigners complain about threats to their safety when they are here.

Those threats keep away tourists and investors, disrupt economic activity, derail development efforts and hamper poverty alleviation. Filipinos have to stop believing that the current level of violence is normal and tolerable. The problem calls for more resolute action and combined efforts by the government and citizenry.