Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021 PHILIPPINES PHILIPPINES RELIGIONS 5.4% Muslims 2.3% 1.5% Ethnoreligionists Other Population Area 109,703,396 300,000 Km2 90.8% GDP per capita GINI INDEX* Christians 7,599 US$ 44.4 *Economic Inequality Under the Philippine constitution, religious groups are LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION required to register in order to secure tax-exempt sta- AND ACTUAL APPLICATION tus. Institutions engaged in “religious, charitable, or educational” activities under Article VI (Section 28) are given this status. More specifically, these may be The current Constitution of the Philippines, enacted in “charitable institutions, churches and parsonages or 1987, guarantees the free exercise of religion and pro- convents appurtenant thereto, mosques, non-profit vides for the separation of Church and state. Section cemeteries, and all lands” used exclusively by them. 5 of Article III (“Bill of Rights”) states, “No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or pro- Christianity has exercised a significant influence on the hibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise culture of the Philippines ever since the 1500s, when and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, the Spanish began their colonisation of the archipel- without discrimination or preference, shall forever be ago. Despite the constitutional separation of Church allowed.”1 The preamble specifies that the constitution and state, the Catholic Church retains an influential is promulgated by the “sovereign Filipino people,” who position in national politics. For example, the Catholic thereby are “imploring the aid of Almighty God.” Church has long shaped the country’s education sys- tem. One reflection of the Church’s influence is that After Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States the government permits religious instruction with the in 1898, many American ideas and cultural practices written consent of a student’s parents or guardian in a were adopted as well, including American-style sepa- public-school setting. Section 3 of Article XIV states, “At the option expressed in writing by the parents or ration of Church and state. According to Section 6 of guardians, religion shall be allowed to be taught to Article II (“Declaration of Principles and State Policies their children or wards in public elementary and high Principles”), “The separation of Church and State shall schools within the regular class hours.” be inviolable.” While a predominantly Christian country, the Phil- | ACN - Aid to the Church in Need PHILIPPINES Religious Freedom in the World ippines has a small but significant Muslim minority, courts have authority only in matters of Muslim cus- particularly concentrated on the large southern island tomary and personal law. Their jurisdiction is restricted Report 2021 of Mindanao. Most Muslims in Mindanao are Sunni, to Muslims and have no authority over criminal mat- whereas a smaller minority of Shi‘a Muslims lives in ters. Moreover, they operate under the administrative PHILIPPINES the provinces of Lanao Del Sur, in central Mindanao, supervision of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. and Zamboanga Del Sur, on the island’s extreme west. With the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, a Shari‘a High Court with jurisdiction over the region’s PHILIPPINES Muslim population was established.4 The integration of the Muslim minority remains a major and unresolved issue in national politics. In Mindanao, The revised penal code, which has been in place since the followers of Islam, who were referred to as Moros the 1930s, criminalises certain acts committed in the RELIGIONS 5.4% or Moors by the Spanish, make up the majority. De- context of religious worship. Article 133 prohibits any- Muslims spite the promise of Article X (1) of the constitution to one from performing “acts notoriously offensive to the 2.3% 1.5% establish “Muslim Mindanao” as an “autonomous re- feelings of the faithful” in a place of religious worship Ethnoreligionists Other gion,” violent conflict between the Philippine govern- or “during the celebration of any religious ceremony.” ment and Moro Muslim insurgents has been ongoing Article 132 criminalises the prevention or disturbance 5 since 1969. of a religious service by an officer of the state. Population Area Following peace agreements signed between the Gov- 109,703,396 300,000 Km2 ernment of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liber- INCIDENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS 90.8% GDP per capita GINI INDEX* Christians In 2019 Carlos Celdran died, the first and only Filipino 7,599 US$ 44.4 ation Front (MILF) in 2018, President Duterte signed *Economic Inequality to be convicted under Article 133, and with this his the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Ratified case came to a close. In 2010, Celdran, an artist and in 2019, the BOL formally abolished the Autonomous tour guide, walked into a religious function in Manila’s Region in Muslim Mindanao. The new law provided the Catholic Cathedral and held up a sign with the word area’s Muslim majority population with greater auton- “Damaso”, a reference to a villainous character in 2 omy and a somewhat larger area. According to Presi- the famous Filipino novel, Noli Me Tangere. Padre dent Duterte, “the successful ratification of this Organ- Damaso was a priest who personified the hypocrisies ic Law will enable us to create an environment that will of the Church during Spanish colonial rule. Celdran’s be conducive to the peaceful coexistence between the intention at the time was to condemn the opposition of the Catholic Church’s hierarchy to a reproductive health bill designed to expand access to artificial Muslims, Christians… and all tribes…who will consid- 3 contraception. Celdran was tried and convicted but er Mindanao as their home.” However, despite these eventually apologised to the Archdiocese of Manila peace efforts, violence has continued across Mindan- (who said he was “forgiven”), but had to wait eight ao as terrorist groups excluded from government ne- years for a final ruling in his case. In August 2018, gotiations engage in widespread attacks subjecting the Supreme Court rejected his appeal and upheld a minority religious communities to horrific violence and minimum sentence of three months and a maximum displacement. sentence of one year. He left the Philippines before The government recognises and authorises Shari‘a a warrant for his arrest could be served, went into courts to operate in Mindanao. Pursuant to Presiden- self-exile in Spain, and died there of a heart attack in tial Decree 1083, the Code of Muslim Personal Laws October 2019.6 of the Philippines, a member of the Philippine Shari‘a Bar may be appointed as a Shari‘a circuit court judge After Carlos Celdran’s death, Bill No. 5170 was from a shortlist of nominees submitted to the Presi- introduced in the Philippine House of Representatives dent by the Judicial Bar Council. In order for Muslims in order to repeal Article 133. Should it be passed, all residing in other areas of the country to pursue ac- pending criminal cases and related civil cases that tion in a Shari‘a court, they must travel to the districts deal with Article 133 violations would be dismissed. in Mindanao with recognised Shari‘a courts. Shari‘a However, the measure appears to face considerable Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021 | opposition, and it is unlikely that it will be enacted in President Duterte has also denounced several bishops the foreseeable future.7 by name, using graphic and abusive language. The president has previously called God “stupid” and Members of the Islamic extremist rebel group Abu described the doctrines of the Catholic Church as Sayyaf, which claims allegiance to the Islamic State 11 PHILIPPINES “silly.” He has also said that the Church lacks the group, played a role in a suicide bombing that struck a moral authority to criticise him and in February 2019 religious service at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral predicted that “Catholicism will disappear in 25 years in Jolo, Sulu province, in January 2019. At least 22 because of the clergy’s alleged abuses.”12 Still, Duterte people were killed, and more than 100 were wounded. remains very popular, with a reported 91 percent The Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and approval rating among Filipinos in October 2020.13 local Christian leaders condemned the Jolo cathedral bombing. 8 In January 2020, police arrested two Abu Sayyaf militants tasked with carrying out a bomb attack at a In August 2019, a Protestant pastor with the United Catholic cathedral in Basilan province.14 Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) known for his work in promoting human rights, was gunned down. In the same month, in Davao City, Mindanao, a Church- Although the motives underlying the pastor’s murder run shelter for displaced tribal people was surrounded were not established, the Ecumenical Bishops Forum by knife-wielding men, who later tore down a wall noted that violent attacks against Christian human and occupied the facility. The Council of Bishops of rights defenders have “alarmingly increased in the the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) three years of President Duterte’s government.”9 demanded a public apology and a full statement by the members of the paramilitary group responsible for Several Catholic and Protestant leaders have strongly the incident. Police who were in the vicinity took no criticised the Duterte administration, especially action.15 with regard to the president’s war on drugs and his