MANILA, Philippines — More than half of Filipinos believe that many of the victims killed by police in the government’s anti-drug campaign did not really put up armed resistance, contrary to the claims of authorities.
According to the second quarter 2017 study of the Social Weather Stations, 54 percent doubted the claims of cops that slain suspects fought back, with 20 percent saying they strongly agree.
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Twenty-five percent were undecided, while the remaining 20 percent disagreed.
Incredulity over the “nanlaban” reason is highest in Metro Manila at 63 percent. It is slightly lower in the rest of Luzon at 56 percent and in Visayas and Mindanao, both at 49 percent.
The very poor are more likely than the wealthy to disbelieve that slain victims put up armed resistance. Fifty-eight percent in class E, 54 percent in class D or the masa and 40 percent in classes ABC agreed with the statement.
According to the government’s #RealNumbersPH campaign's release as of August 29, there were 3,811 drug personalities who died in anti-drug operations since July 1, 2016.
READ: Flawed, fuzzy numbers in the war on drugs
However, human rights groups estimate a higher death toll, with more than 12,000 individuals killed in the course of the administration’s anti-narcotics campaign.
The study also revealed that nearly half (49 percent) of Filipinos think that many of those killed by police are not really drug pushers.
Twenty-seven percent were undecided, while the remaining 23 percent disagreed.
The number of people who believe that many of those killed during drug operation are innocent is higher in Metro Manila at 58 percent, followed by Visayas at 52 percent, Luzon at 48 percent and Mindanao at 45 percent.
Meanwhile, half of the Filipinos believe that false accusations of drug involvement lead to many police killings. Only 28 percent were undecided, while 21 percent disagreed.
A total of 1,200 adults—300 each in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao—were surveyed using face-to-face interviews in the study that was conducted from June 23 to 26.
The survey had sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
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