By: Ellalyn V. Ruiz
Nine in 10 Filipinos expressed support for the government’s anti-drug war but majority believe that extrajudicial killings are taking place in the conduct of the campaign, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.
In the nationwide survey conducted from Sept. 24 to 30 among 1,200 respondents, Pulse Asia found out that 88 percent of Filipinos are supportive of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Only two percent of Filipinos are not supportive while nine percent are unable to say if they support or do not support the campaign. Less than one percent of Filipinos are unable to state their position on the matter, even in terms of indecision.
Pulse Asia said the same levels of support are obtained across geographic areas and socio-economic groupings (84 to 94 percent and 80 to 89 percent, respectively).
While most Filipinos support the campaign against illegal drugs, 73 percent of Filipinos believe that extrajudicial killings are occurring during the course of action, up six percentage points from 67 percent in June. Disagreement eased from 29 percent in June to 20 percent at present.
Most Filipinos across all areas and socio-economic classes believe that unexplained killings due to drugs are happening (67 to 78 percent and 70 to 77 percent, respectively).
During the period June to September 2017, there is a decline in the percentage of Filipinos who do not believe extrajudicial killings are occurring in the conduct of the administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.