Senators mixed on SWS perception survey over danger in criticizing govt

Pollster Social Weather Stations' survey showing that 51 percent of Filipinos think publishing anything against the present administration is dangerous, drew mixed reactions from some senators on Saturday.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III brushed the survey aside as mere "perception" and a "wrong one," arguing that  "articles, comments, and criticisms abound, yet nothing shows that government  makes it dangerous."

For Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, the survey result indicates a creeping culture of fear among Filipinos, and that such is not at all surprising under the present administration.

"It does not come as a surprise considering the culture of sowing fear and threatening perceived enemies, the stifling of dissent and the silencing of critics has been the hallmark of this admin since 2016," Pangilinan said.

"Four years of vicious attacks by both the leaders and supporters of the administration against criticisms both online and offline will create that level of fear," he added.

But he quickly adds, "Fear may be infectious but so is courage."

Pangilinan believes that people will not cower in fear forever especially in the face of the abuses and incompetence of the Administration in addressing COVID-19 crisis, in fighting corruption and in defending our sovereignty against Chinese aggression .

In line with Pangilinan's "culture of fear" mentality, Senator Grace Poe looks at the survey as a "reflection of how history has affected the mindset of Filipinos."

Let us recall that we were under Martial Law for decades; we were colonized by the Spaniards for 300 years. This context have conditioned the minds of a lot of Filipinos into believing that speaking out is dangerous, she said.

But this is precisely why we should strive to change this mindset, she added.

Malacañang in an earlier statement in reaction to the survey maintained  that the Duterte administration upholds freedom of speech and of the press.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque pointed out that “no single libel case has been filed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte against the political opposition.”

The SWS poll, taken last July 3 to 6, also revealed that of the 51 percent who agree  that it is dangerous to air criticisms, 23 percent strongly agree with the other 27 percent somewhat agreeing.  —LBG, GMA News