MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is still one of the least peaceful countries in the world, the latest international study that measures global peace showed Wednesday.
According to the Global Peace Index 2018, the Philippines ranked 137th out of the 163 nations. This year’s ranking is one notch higher than 138th in 2017.
It has a score of 2.512.
The Global Peace Index said that the Philippines “suffered particularly badly” as President Rodrigo Duterte continued his bloody anti-narcotics campaign, which has killed thousands, mostly urban poor dwellers.
According to the latest government data, there were 4,279 alleged drug dealers and users who had died since the start of the government’s ferocious anti-narcotics campaign. This is significantly lower than the estimate of human rights groups at more than 12,000 drug personalities dead.
The score can be also attributed to the five-month urban war between government forces and pro-Islamic State rebels who took over Marawi City last year, resulting in almost 1,200 militants, government forces and civilians killed.
‘Second least peaceful in Asia-Pacific’
The Philippines was also tagged as the second least peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific region, beating only North Korea, which ranked 150th in the global ranking.
New Zealand, second in the global ranking, was the most peaceful in the region.
The report, however, noted that there was improvement in both internal and external conflicts fought, and relations with neighboring countries across the region.
“The improvements in internal and external conflicts fought, and relations with neighboring countries reflected a calming of tensions in the South China Sea after President Duterte of the Philippines reached an understanding with China and the rapprochement between Beijing and South Korea under new President Moon Jae-in,” it said.
Iceland maintained its position as the most peaceful nation in the world.
War-ravaged Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq and Somalia were the countries with the lowest state of peace.
The Global Peace Index was produced by the Institute of Economics and Peace.