MANILA, Philippines - Three out of four Filipinos support the implementation of a gun control policy in the country, a recent Pulse Asia survey revealed on Tuesday.
In a survey covering 1,800 people aged 18 and above, 75 percent back the imposition of a gun control policy, seven percent disagreed, while 18 percent were undecided on the issue.
Metro Manila residents are more inclined to back such measure (87 percent) compared to their counterparts in Visayas and Mindanao (70 percent and 66 percent, respectively).
The survey also showed that most Filipinos (78 percent) prefer a policy that only allows law enforcers and licensed private security guards to carry firearms in public places.
On the other hand, 22 percent of the respondents prefer a regulation that allows all holders of licensed firearms to carry such weapons anywhere they please.
A sizeable majority of the respondents (67 percent) also think that guns and their proliferation are among the key reasons why crime and violence occur in the country.
The survey, which was conducted from March 16 to 20, has a margin of error of ±2 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.
It was conducted when charges were filed against soldiers and policemen involved in the Atimonan, Quezon shooting last January, a month when gun-related incidents were reported including the New Year stray bullet cases.
The Philippine National Police is still implementing an election gun ban that has netted 2,667 violators as of April 23, including several policemen and soldiers.