‘Pinoys appreciative of drug war’

MANILA, Philippines -  Despite the lower public satisfaction with President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs, Malacañang yesterday claimed that the campaign continues to enjoy the “deep appreciation” of Filipinos.

A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that satisfaction over the conduct of the government’s anti-drug campaign has gone down by 11 percentage points, from +77 in December 2016 to +66 in March 2017. 

According to the survey, 78 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the administration’s performance in its crackdown on illegal drugs while 12 percent were dissatisfied. 

A huge majority of the respondents are still afraid that they would become victims of extrajudicial killings. 

The March survey revealed that 73 percent of the respondents were either very worried or somewhat worried that they would be victims of extrajudicial killings. The figure is lower, though, compared to the 78 percent recorded last December.  

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella sought to downplay the lower satisfaction rating of the anti-drug campaign, saying the public consistently appreciates the government’s efforts. 

“We look at it from the bigger perspective. And considering the fact that these things, the survey (were) conducted during times of…there were several issues ongoing, it tells us that in spite of it all, the deep appreciation of the Filipinos is reflected in this survey,” Abella said in a press briefing yesterday in Malacañang.

Abella cited the sentiments of Filipino communities abroad, who he said “really connect with what the President was saying about preserving the patrimony and the next generation.”

“There really is a very significant cultural prism from which people view it. They view it in terms of the President doing the country a favor in terms of preserving common good and the next generation,” he said. 

Asked about the fear of a huge majority of respondents that they could become victims of extrajudicial killings, Abella answered: “You just have to also understand that there are certain sectors that would be more concerned regarding these matters. But on the whole, in general, there is a general sense of safety.”

He added: “It balances out because people also are satisfied, right? So you look at it from the bigger picture.”

About 8,000 suspected drug offenders have died since the Duterte administration launched a brutal campaign against illegal drugs last year.

Human rights advocates claimed that the campaign has encouraged summary executions and human rights violations, but officials have denied the allegation.

Duterte, who has encouraged civilians to shoot drug pushers, said his bloody campaign would not stop until the last drug personality is out of the streets. 

PNP challenged

Following the decline in the war on drugs’ satisfaction rating among Filipinos, the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to bring back the public’s trust in the government’s brutal anti-narcotics campaign.

“It’s a challenge for us. If we can raise the figure of the acceptance of the public, it would be a good indicator that we have the support of the public,” PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said when sought for comment.

The 78 percent satisfaction rating, though, is still a good indicator, as it means more than half of the public is supportive of the campaign, according to Carlos.

He said the survey was conducted at the time they were re-establishing the campaign which was put on hold last January following reports of irregularities of police scalawags who used the war on drugs as a front for their illegal activities.

On the issue that 73 percent – from the previous survey of 78 percent – of Filipinos are worried they could be victims of summary killings, Carlos said it only shows that a majority have accepted their explanation that not all the killings perpetrated by vigilantes are drug-related.

Meanwhile, the PNP agreed with 92 percent of the respondents that wanted suspects involved in illegal drugs should be captured alive.

“We would like those violating the law to be arrested alive,” Carlos said, noting that proof of this is that more drug suspects have been arrested compared to those who have been killed in police operations.

Since the resumption of the war on drugs last month, 10,107 suspects have been arrested while 118 others have been killed after they allegedly put up a fight with the police.

With 1.18 million drug surrenderers so far, Carlos pointed out that the real effort of their campaign is to reach out to those involved in illegal drugs and convince them to reform.

It could not be avoided, however, that some drug peddlers who fought back ended up dead, as the priority is to protect the lives of police officers involved in operations.

Senators air sentiments

Meanwhile, senators have expressed worry over the declining support of Filipinos for Duterte’s drug war, even as they called on the PNP to change its approach in fighting illegal drugs.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said the tactics of law enforcement agencies, including the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), are starting to reach its “saturation point,” as far as the public is concerned.

“While the overall strategy is still effective, I think it’s time that the PDEA and the PNP should make some adjustments in their tactical offensive,” Lacson said.

The senator apparently shares the belief of many that some of the extrajudicial killings of drug suspects could have been perpetrated by lawmen.

“The summary killings by riding in tandem and other similar methods have become too predictable and the public have grown tired of hearing the same modus operandi over and over again,” he said.

To disprove that police officers are not involved in the extrajudicial killings – or deaths under investigation (DUI), as the PNP puts it – the government must “show solutions of these DUIs and arrests must be made in considerable degree,” according to Lacson.

Sen. Joel Villanueva said he greatly appreciates Duterte’s relentless commitment to his drug war, but the campaign is also beginning to show is weaknesses.

He cited the statement of former Colombian president Cesar Gaviria, who previously gave Duterte unsolicited advice not to rely too much on the use of force.

“We don’t want the public to lose its faith in the government because of the increasing casualties of the drug war. I don’t think we’ll get a passing grade when it comes to addressing vigilante killings. We should start rethinking our approach to ensure that the backlash on the drug war will not affect the other programs of the government, especially poverty-alleviating programs,” Villanueva said.

For Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, it is evident that Filipinos generally continue to support the war on drugs, but the survey should prompt Malacañang to make a serious reassessment.

“The result of this survey is worrisome. I maintain that the integrity and credibility of the PNP must remain untarnished all the time. There must be no room for doubts,” Gatchalian said, as he called on the PNP to work double time to regain 100 percent public trust and bring back the feeling of peace and security in communities.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, a strong advocate against illegal drugs, was unperturbed by the survey.

“It’s a small percentage. Most probably, it went to undecided and not against. Not worth worrying about. More than 70 percent (support the campaign),” he said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros was more condemning, saying the massive support for the campaign against drugs has turned into a “national nightmare.”

“The fear is real. EJKs are a reality. The government’s attempt to massage its original data and/or re-introduce new and questionable data on the killings attributed to the drug war cannot hide this fact,” Hotinveros said.

“As long as the government’s anti-drug campaign continues to create a climate of fear, impunity and killing, this war is a losing battle with less and less supporters.”

The Philippines, according to her, is now farther away from the order and security that Duterte promised during the campaign for last year’s elections.

“Our people are living in fear, among the ghosts of the drug war victims, without any semblance of justice in sight,” Hontiveros said.