60% of Pinoys want international probe on drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Six in 10 Filipinos believe the Duterte government should allow international organizations such as the United Nations to conduct an investigation on the killings linked to the administration’s war on drugs, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed.

The poll, conducted on June 22-26, found 60 percent of adult Filipinos agreeing with the statement, “The government should not block the investigation of international groups, like the United Nations, into the killing by the Philippine police of so many drug suspects who supposedly fought back.”

Of the 60 percent, 26 percent strongly agree and 34 percent somewhat agree.

Only 15 percent disagree with the statement, consisting of seven percent who strongly disagree and eight percent who somewhat disagree.

The figures resulted in a net agreement score of +45, classified by SWS as “very strong.” The remaining 25 percent of respondents are undecided.

The net agreement that the government should not block the investigations by international organizations on the drug-related killings involving the police was highest in Mindanao at “extremely strong” +50, followed by very strong net scores in balance Luzon at +45, Metro Manila at +43 and the Visayas at +42.

It was very strong in both urban and rural areas, at +46 and +44, respectively. Net agreement was very strong in all classes: it was highest in class D or the masa at +46, followed by class E at +45 and class ABC at +37.

It was also very strong among both women and men, at +47 and +44, respectively.

The net agreement with the statement was “extremely strong” among 35- to 44-year-olds and high school graduates, both at +52.

It was also extremely strong among 18- to 24-year-olds at +50, followed by very strong scores among 25- to 34-year-olds at +48, 55-year-olds and above at +45 and 45- to 54-year-olds at +31.

The net agreement was at very strong levels among college graduates at +46, elementary graduates at +40 and non-elementary graduates at +36, respectively.

The survey was based on face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults, 18 years old and above, nationwide.

Eighteen of the 47 United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) member-countries recently voted in favor of a resolution that calls for a comprehensive report on the situation in the Philippines and lays out several key actions against the rising killings in the country’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

Malacañang has strongly condemned the resolution adopted by UNHRC, calling it an interference in the country’s domestic affairs.