SWS: 60% believe only poor killed in drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Three of five Filipinos believe that only the poor are killed in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest survey.

Sixty percent agreed – 33 percent strongly and 27 percent somewhat agreed – with the statement: rich drug pushers are not killed; only the poor ones are killed.

Twenty-three percent disagreed – 12 percent somewhat and 11 percent strongly – while 17 percent were undecided.

The poll was conducted nationwide from June 23 to 26, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults aged 18 years and above.

The highest proportion of those who agreed that only poor drug pushers were killed were from Metro Manila with 75 percent; followed by Mindanao, 59 percent; balance Luzon, 58 percent, and the Visayas, 53 percent.

The survey also showed seven in 10 Filipinos agreed that President Duterte should expose his list of drug personalities and charge them in court.

It found 74 percent who agreed – 46 percent strongly agree, 28 percent somewhat agree – with the statement: President Duterte should expose his list of drug personalities to the public and charge those in the list in court.

Twelve percent disagreed – seven percent somewhat disagree, five percent strongly disagree – and 14 percent were undecided.

Those who are in favor of Duterte making his list of drug personalities public and charging them in court was highest in Metro Manila with 82 percent, followed by balance Luzon, 75 percent; Mindanao, 71 percent and the Visayas, 69 percent.

Meanwhile, Filipinos are divided about the truthfulness of police claims of nanlaban or suspects resisting arrest.

The survey found that opinions continue to be split about the police claim that the suspects killed in the anti-illegal drugs campaign resisted arrest. Twenty-five percent said the police are telling the truth and 28 percent said the police are not telling the truth.

Nearly half or 48 percent were unsure whether the police are telling the truth or not.

The proportion of those who say the police are telling the truth was highest in the Visayas at 33 percent, followed by Mindanao at 30 percent, balance Luzon at 21 percent and Metro Manila at 16 percent.

On the other hand, the proportion of those who say the police are not telling the truth was highest in Metro Manila at 39 percent, followed by balance Luzon at 27 percent, the Visayas at 25 percent and Mindanao at 23 percent.

The proportion of those unsure whether the police are telling the truth or not was highest in balance Luzon with 53 percent; followed by Mindanao, 46 percent; Metro Manila, 44 percent and the Visayas, 42 percent.

The SWS said its surveys on the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs were non-commissioned.