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PALACE SAYS

Latest SWS poll validates success of Duterte admin's war on drugs


Malacañang on Saturday lauded the latest Social Weather Stations survey that shows majority of Filipinos believe the number of drug users in the country declined last year.

"The Palace welcomes the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) showing that more than 6 out of 10 Filipinos, or 66 percent, believe that the number of drug addicts in their area has decreased over the past year," Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

According to him, the result of the survey conducted last December 16 to 19 is a validation of the success of the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

"As we all know, it is a major campaign platform of President Duterte and remains a centerpiece program of his administration, notwithstanding the harshest criticisms, brickbats and pressures the current government is receiving here and abroad," Panelo said.

"The political opposition and the detractors of the President have been most vocal in using the drug war to vilify the Chief Executive and his administration even bringing the issue to the International Criminal Court."

Moreover, he said that the opposition has remained skeptical, unimpressed, and indifferent despite the "significant strides made by our authorities in relation to prohibited narcotics even pointing out there remains demand and supply on illegal drugs."

"We ask them to stop playing blind dumb and instead listen to the people: 83 percent of people of Mindanao say there are less drug addicts there; 71 percent in the Visayas say there is a decrease; 67 percent in Metro Manila likewise say there is a decrease; while 54 percent in Luzon share the same sentiment."

Panelo added: "Even as our people acknowledge the administration's efforts to bring down the number of drug personalities, our focus and drive remain unwavering in destroying the drug apparatus and putting behind bars the drug pushers, with strict observance to operational protocols, until the last day of the President’s term of office in 2022."

Also, the latest SWS poll shows that 95 percent of adult Filipinos see the importance  of capturing drug suspects alive, and 5 percent said it is not important.

On the other hand, Senator Richard Gordon said that he also wants drug suspects to be captured alive.

"Siyempre ako rin mas gusto ko alive, papatayin mo adik nga 'yun wala na siya kontrol sa sarili, kaya nga nagtatayo tayo rehab, pero dapat sa pamilya dapat sabihan agad na 'wag papasok sa drugs. dapat itinuturo problema parang kinukunsinti pa natin pwedeng magkamali bata yan," Estrada said in an interview on dwIZ. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News

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