Majority of Filipinos support drug war, believe EJKs occur — Pulse Asia

MANILA, Philippines —An overwhelming majority of Filipinos support the government's campaign against illegal drugs despite their belief that extrajudicial killings happen, the latest Pulse Asia survey suggested on Monday.

Out of the 1,200 people surveyed in Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan survey, 88 percent of respondents expressed their support for the administration’s war on drugs.

The high level of support for the campaign against illegal drugs was recorded across all areas and socio-economic groupings.

Only two percent are not supportive of the campaign while nine percent were unable to say if they support President Rodrigo Duterte’s so-called drug war or not. Less than one percent were unable to state their positions on the matter.

More Pinoys believe EJKs happen 

The same survey revealed that 73 percent of Filipinos believe that extrajudicial killings are taking place in the course of the war on drugs—rising by six points from 67 percent in June.

This view was echoed by majorities in all areas and classes.

Despite the increase in the percentage of people who believe EJKs are occurring, the figure is insignificant at it falls within the ± six percent margin of error, the pollster said.

On the other hand, 20 percent of Filipinos do not believe EJKs are happening in the implementation of the anti-narcotics campaign—a nine-point decline from 29 percent in June.

In a separate survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations, 90 percent of Filipinos think it is vital that authorities capture drug suspects alive. Only 11 percent do not mind if drug suspects are killed in police operations. 

SWS also found that more than half of Filipinos (54 percent) doubted the claims of cops that slain suspects fought back during drug operations.

The Palace and the Philippine National Police have maintained the position that there have been no extrajudicial killings based on criteria established by Administrative Order 35. The order created an inter-agency council to investigate extrajudicial killings and lists the criteria for cases that the new body was supposed to focus on.   

READ: SWS: Majority of Filipinos think ‘nanlaban’ victims didn’t really fight back, SWS: Vast majority of Filipinos think drug suspects should be captured alive

Awareness of Kian delos Santos case

The survey also found out that nine out of 10 Filipinos know about the case of Kian delos Santos, a 17-year-old boy who was killed in mid-August by Caloocan cops in an alleged anti-drugs operation.

The death of the schoolboy, whom police claim was a drug mule but had no derogatory record at his school nor at their barangay, has sparked public outrage.

Seventy-six percent of those aware of the death of delos Santos expressed worry that they or someone they know would be killed in the administration’s anti-drugs campaign.

Only 11 percent said they are worried while 13 percent were unable to say if they are worried or not. 

The result of Pulse Asia’s survey echoed the findings of SWS that seven out of 10 Filipinos are worried they might be victims of extrajudicial killings.

Church should help rehab drug addicts

More than half of Filipinos (58 percent) would like the Catholic Church to help with the rehabilitation of drug addicts.

Forty-six percent said the church leaders should monitor the campaign against illegal drugs, 40 percent wanted the Catholic Church to release statements expressing concerns about deaths associated with drug war and 28 percent said religious leaders should assist in litigating alleged abusive law enforcers.

Only 13 percent of the respondents said that the Church should interfere with the government’s programs.

Early in October, the Catholic Church announced that police officers approached church leaders to testify about their participation in extrajudicial killings in the government’s war on drugs.

The Catholic Church is one of the institutions critical of the president's bloody crackdown on illegal drugs because of its belief in the right to life. This has earned it criticism from Duterte supporters, ranging from a reminder to stay out of political affairs to condemnation for its perceived inaction on sexual abuse within the church.

Last month, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David could be guilty of obstruction of justice for taking the custody of the witnesses to the killing of delos Santos. 

READ: Cops seek refuge with Church to testify on EJKs

Drug operations in barangays

Moreover, almost eight out of 10 Filipinos (77 percent) are aware of anti-illegal drug operations conducted in their barangays last year.

Eighty-six percent characterized these operations as orderly, while 11 percent said these campaigns were violent.

In those areas where anti-illegal drug operations were conducted in the previous year, 69 percent reported awareness of someone being arrested while 82 percent said they knew people who surrendered.

Twenty-one percent said there were people killed and 14 percent said there were people injured during the conduct of anti-drug operations in their barangays.

The Philippine National Police said there have been 6,225 drug-related deaths between July 2016 and September 2017.

The police said 3,850 have "died in police operations," suggesting these are drug suspects who engaged arresting officers in shootouts; while the another 2,290 "deaths under investigation," have already been determined to be "drug-related."

The latest #RealNumbersPH government data release has raised the number of people killed in drug operations to 3,906.

However, human rights groups estimate a higher death toll, with some estimates going as high as 13,000 individuals killed in the course of the administration’s anti-narcotics campaign.

The latest Ulat ng Bayan survey was conducted from September 24 to 30 using face-to-face interviews.

Prior to the survey, the entire Caloocan City police force was sacked after the killing of teenagers. Duterte and Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa also denied any state policy to kill drug suspects in the course of drug war.