The latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that the illegal drugs campaign waged by President Duterte received an “excellent” rating from an overwhelming majority (85 percent), steady from the satisfaction rating in the third quarter survey. This, despite international concern drawn by the illegal drugs campaign and a  request from a United Nations human rights expert to investigate.

The survey was conducted from December 3 to 6 among 1,500 respondents.

But despite the overwhelming approval, 78 percent of the respondents worry about becoming victims of extrajudicial killings. About 45 percent said they were “very worried” that they will be killed, while 33 percent were “somewhat worried.”

The result of the survey was first published in the BusinessWorld Monday.

More than 2,000 people have been killed by police in anti-narcotics operations since Duterte assumed office on July 1. Another 3,000 deaths, some attributed to masked men on motorcycles or vigilantes, are under investigation.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on the Laity said, “we really need to worry about EJK even without the survey result.”  Pabillo believes the increasing number of EJKs is already “getting out of hand” and the government is no longer in control.

DIVIDED

The respondents were also divided on claims by the police that the drug suspects who were killed gave up a fight or resisted arrest.

Twenty-nine percent believe the police were not telling the truth while 28 percent believed the police were telling the truth. Nine percent think the claims were “definitely the truth”, while 19 percent think the police version was “probably the truth.”

Majority, however (42 percent) were unsure whether the police was telling the truth about victims putting up a fight during anti-illegal drugs operation.

POSITIVE RESULT

The December survey also showed that 88 percent agreed that the illegal drugs problem in their respective areas declined since Duterte implemented his campaign promise to clean the country of illegal drugs.  Only three percent disagreed.

But 71 percent of the respondents believe it is “very important” that drug suspects be caught alive.

“I am not surprised with the conundrum that people acknowledge that the anti-drug campaign is fitting, so they allow it. But they would like less killings,” said Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

Reacting to concerns of Filipinos about becoming victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs), Communications Secretary Martin Andanar assured the public that the government’s war against illegal drugs is not aimed at poor, innocent, hapless individuals and  thanked the Filipino people for their continued expression of support.

“We recognize our people’s concern,” Andanar said in a statement and stressed that the EJKs are “not state sponsored.”

MORE IN DRUG LIST

Meanwhile, President Duterte  tagged more local officials allegedly involved in the illicit drug trade.

The Chief Executive named Rep. Vicente Belmonte and ex-Mayor Lawence Cruz – both of Iligan City, and one Mayor Willy Lim during his speech at the 2016 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang.

“We are already a narco-politics country. Hindi natin alam until I became President,” Duterte said.

“When I started to squeeze everybody, then I found out there are mayors, barangay captains, governors, and a few congressmen in the business of shabu,” he added. (With a report from Elena L. Aben, Leslie Ann G. Aquino and Roy C. Mabasa)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola

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