S&P maintained its stable outlook for the Philippines, but highlighted a range of "weaknesses" under the new Duterte administration that also included his foreign policy and national security statements. "The president has a strong focus on improving ’law and order’, which has allegedly resulted in numerous extrajudicial killings since he came to power," S&P said. "This could undermine respect for the rule of law and human rights through the direct challenges it presents to the legitimacy of the judiciary, media and other democratic institutions. "When combined with the president’s policy pronouncements elsewhere on foreign policy and national security, we believe that the stability and predictability of policymaking has diminished somewhat.

Source: The Nation Bangkok September 21, 2016 09:11 UTC