The Philippines’ path to democracy traces its origin in the 1986 People Power Revolt, a non-violent uprising that toppled two decades of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The 1987 Constitution was drafted and ratified in response to the rampant human rights violations and corruption during the Martial Law regime, guaranteeing essential civil and political rights. And yet, the fundamental structural issues remain – political dynasties, corruption, and embedded inequality. Elite and corporate influence over politicians and government officials has festered across all levels of government and resulted in the elite-business alliance among the prime violators of human rights and disablers of civil society in the country.

Despite legal and democratic safeguards, civil society in the Philippines faces significant challenges, including chronic threats and a narrow civic space, largely due to the dominance of political dynasties and prioritisation of familial interests in policymaking. Furthermore, internal armed conflicts and heavy-handed government policies, especially magnified during the Duterte administration, have led to human rights crises, extrajudicial executions, red-tagging, and judicial harassment, trends that persist under the current administration.

Amidst the prevalence of securitised policies, democratic reforms have paved the way for effective spaces for engagement between government and civil society that has of late achieved global recognition for the country, such as the Philippine Open Government Partnership and the National Women, Peace, and Security (NAP WPS) Center for Excellence. Such a conflicted approach to development and peacebuilding has characterised the complex environment for civic space in the country where threats are extreme against dissent yet opportunities for meaningful engagement are available for constructive civil society.