Nine out of 10 or majority of Filipinos believe it is important for the government to assert its right to the islands in the West Philippine Sea, a Social Weather Stations survey showed.
In the special survey conducted from June 22 to 26, 1,200 respondents were asked about their opinion on the statement: “The Philippine government should assert its right to the islands in the West Philippine Sea as stipulated in the 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.”
Eighty-seven percent of Filipinos agreed (59 percent agree, 28 percent somewhat agree), five percent disagreed (two percent strongly disagree, three percent somewhat agree), and nine percent were undecided.
During the survey period, SWS also asked the statement: “The government should arrest and prosecute Chinese fishermen causing the destruction of marine resources in the West Philippine Sea.”
Eight-seven percent agreed (63 percent strongly agree, 24 percent somewhat agree), five percent disagreed (two percent strongly disagree, three percent somewhat disagree), and eight percent were undecided.
Another questions posed to the respondents: “How serious is the government in protecting the safety of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea against foreign vessels that threaten their security?”
Seventy-one percent said the government is serious (35 percent very serious, 36 percent somewhat serious), 15 percent said it is not serious (six percent very serious, nine percent somewhat serious), and 14 percent were undecided.
The SWS two days earlier released the result of a survey that asked about Filipinos’ opinion on how important the control of the islands that China currently occupies in the West Philippine Sea be given back to the Philippines.
Ninety-three percent of the respondents said it is important that the Philippines regain control of the islands occupied by China in the West Philippine Sea. (Ellalyn Ruiz)
