Palace: Duterte respects free expression

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is encouraging the public to express their views on state policies following the release of a poll indicating that more than half of Filipinos think printing or broadcasting anything critical of the administration is dangerous.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) nationwide survey conducted on June 22-26 found that 59 percent of Filipino adults agreed that they can say anything they want openly and without fear, even if it is against the administration. Only 18 percent disagreed with the statement for a “very strong” net agreement score of +41.

The poll, however, also found that 51 percent of Filipinos agreed that it is “dangerous” to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth. Only 29 percent of the 1,200 respondents did not agree with the statement, for a net agreement of +31.

The number of those who said they enjoy personal freedom of speech in the June survey was 10 points higher than the 49 percent obtained in December 2018.

The number of those who said they could not say anything they want fell from 25 percent, while the undecided also fell from 26 percent.

SWS said it first measured freedom of speech in 1985 during the time of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. 

It reached its record-high of 74 percent saying they enjoy freedom of speech during the administration of former president Corazon Aquino.

The latest survey had an error margin of plus/minus three percent for national percentages.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said Malacañang is “curious” why 51 percent of the respondents thought it dangerous to publicize anything critical of the administration. Panelo added that there is no prior restraint or punishment for those who practice the freedom to dissent in the Duterte presidency.

“The President respects criticisms as long as the same is not baseless, unfounded or false. He even urges the people, including writers and reporters, to freely express whatever sentiments they have,” Panelo said in a statement issued Saturday night.

“As long as the speech or expression is within the ambit of the constitutional guarantees, it will not face any government interference,” he added.

Dissent against the administration and its policies is “loud and not curtailed,” according to Panelo, citing anti-Duterte opinions in the media and social networking sites.

“We reiterate our call to all Filipinos not to hesitate in articulating their thoughts on government policies, critical or otherwise,” the spokeman said.

“Ours is a President who not only respects everyone’s right to free speech but listens to our plight as he ensures that the fibers of our country’s democracy are preserved and enhanced,” he added.

Panelo claimed that the survey indicating that 59 percent of Filipinos think they can say anything they want openly and without fear was a repudiation of the opposition’s claim that freedom of expression is being curtailed by the administration.

“The survey rating means we have a vibrant and robust exercise of those freedoms,” he said.

The results of the SWS poll were released two days after Duterte hurled a string of insults at Sen. Richard Gordon for criticizing his appointment of former military officials to civilian posts.

Last Thursday, Duterte said Gordon is a “smart a**” who walks like a penguin. The President also claimed that the senator’s stomach is “a fart away from disaster.” – With Janvic Mateo