Survey: Most of MM back Iraq pullout

A majority of Filipinos in Metro Manila supported President Arroyo’s decision to pull out the 51-man Philippine humanitarian contingent from Iraq ahead of their tour of duty on Aug. 20 in compliance with the demands of the Iraqi militants that held truck driver Angelo de la Cruz hostage.

This was the finding of a Harris & Black Associates (HB&A) survey commissioned by Malacañang. The survey was taken from July 17 to 19, after Mrs. Arroyo announced her decision to recall the head of the contingent, Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan, along with the first batch of ten troopers.

Of the total respondents, 74 percent said the President "made the right decision" to withdraw the Filipino troops to save the life of De la Cruz, while only 19 percent said the decision was "wrong." Seven percent had no stand on the issue.

With a random sample size of 300 respondents in Metro Manila, the survey had a 0.5 percent margin of error.

The first HB&A survey on the issue, taken from July 10 to 12 at the height of the hostage crisis, showed a split in the public support for the retention or the pullout of the troops.

HB&A managing director Anthony Abaya revealed the survey results of his polling firm which he submitted to Malacañang yesterday.