Majority of Filipinos believe policemen are involved in the illegal drug trade, extra-judicial killings, and planting evidence against suspected drug traders, results of the fourth quarter of 2018 Social Weather Stations survey showed.
In the survey conducted from Dec. 16 to 19, 2018 among 1,440 adult Filipinos, SWS found that majority believe that accusations against policemen are true.
In particular, respondents were asked if accusations that policemen are involved in the illegal drug trade are true. Sixty-eight percent of Filipinos said it is definitely or probably true, 26 percent are undecided, and five percent said it is definitely or probably not true.
Belief in the accusation that policemen are involved in the illegal drug trade was highest in Metro Manila at 75 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon at 68 percent, Mindanao at 67 percent, and Visayas at 66 percent. It was higher among those in urban areas at 71 percent compared to those in rural areas at 66 percent.
When asked if accusations that policemen are involved in the extra-judicial killing of illegal drug trade suspects are true, 66 percent of Filipinos said it is definitely or probably true, 28 percent are undecided, and five percent said it is definitely or probably not true.
Belief in the accusation that policemen are involved in extrajudicial killings was highest in Metro Manila at 72 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon at 67 percent, and Visayas and Mindanao at 63 percent each. It was higher among those in urban areas at 69 percent, compared to those in rural areas at 64 percent.
When asked if accusations that policemen often plant evidence against suspects they arrest are true, 58 percent of Filipinos said it is definitely or probably true, 33 percent are undecided, and none percent said it is definitely or probably not true.
Belief in the accusation that policemen are involved in planting evidence was highest in Metro Manila and rest of Luzon at 59 percent each, followed by Visayas at 56 percent, and Mindanao at 55 percent. It was higher among those in urban areas at 61 percent compared to those in rural areas at 55 percent. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
