Philippines retains poll ranking in people’s sense of security

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday welcomed the results of the latest Gallup poll where the Philippines retained its ranking in terms of people’s sense of security and experience with crime. 

The Philippines was given an index score of 82 in the 2018 Gallup Global Law and Order report, the same score it got last year. 

The country remained in the upper half of 142 countries covered by the report and was at par with Croatia, Poland, Israel, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Serbia, Australia, South Korea, Romania, Iran and Sri Lanka.

The study sought to determine whether its 148,000 respondents feel safe walking alone at night in the area where they live. Respondents were also asked whether they experienced being assaulted or losing property in the last 12 months.

The results of the research were released as critics expressed concern over the spate of killings tied to the Duterte administration’s intensified war on illegal drugs and crime. 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque attributed the poll results to the government’s campaign against criminality, one of the priorities of the administration. 

“We now have a confirmation that our communities have become safer and more peaceful,” Roque said in a press briefing. “Our campaign against criminality has resulted in the perception by our countrymen that they are safe when walking alone at night.” 

Roque noted that the Philippines’ score of 82 was an improvement from the 76 it got in 2016 and was higher than the average score of 72 for East Asia. 

More than 4,000 have been killed since Duterte declared a war on drugs in 2016, alarming human rights advocates who claimed that the campaign encourages extrajudicial killings. 

Duterte has denied endorsing extrajudicial killings but has repeatedly warned drug lords and their allies in government that he would kill them if they continue their illegal activities. 

Singapore got the highest index score of 97 in the Gallup poll followed by Norway, Iceland and Finland, all of which got a score of 93. 

Venezuela was at the bottom of the list with an index score of 44.