Drive vs. illegal drugs excellent, but suspects should live —SWS poll

President Rodrigo Duterte's intense campaign against illegal drugs has earned an "overwhelming" public support, but respondents to the recent survey by the Social Weather Stations said catching drug suspects alive is "very important."

Conducted from September 24 to 27, the SWS study showed that 84 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with the drive against illegal drugs, the percentage rating being broken down into 54 percent "very satisfied" and 30 percent "somewhat satisfied." 

Eight percent of the respondents were dissatisfied (4 percent "somewhat dissatisfied" and 4 percent very dissatisfied), while another eight percent were undecided.

The SWS said that the survey was done through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide and with sampling error margins of ±3 points for national percentages and ±6 points each for Metro Manila, "Balance of Luzon," the Visayas and Mindanao.

Also, the study yielded an "excellent" net satisfaction rating of +76 (percent satisfied minus percent dissatisfied), the SWS said.

SWS classifies net satisfaction ratings of at least +70 as "excellent"; +50 to +69 as "very good"; +30 to +49, "good"; +10 to +29, "moderate"; +9 to -9, "neutral"; -10 to -29, "poor"; -30 to -49, "bad"; -50 to -69, "very bad" as well as -70 and below as "execrable."

Suspects should be alive

The survey also found that 71 percent of respondents believe that it is "very important" that drug suspects be caught alive, with 23 percent saying it is "somewhat important," 5 percent saying it is "somewhat not important" and 2 percent saying it is "not important at all."

Eighty-three percent of the respondents said that the administration's intensified war against illegal drugs "does not discriminate by class." However, 13 percent said it is centered on the poor, while 4 percent said it is centered on the rich.

Excellent across areas, classes

The SWS poll also showed that net satisfaction ratings were "excellent" across areas and socioeconomic classes.

In Duterte's bailiwick Mindanao, the campaign got +87 (90 percent satisfied, 3 percent dissatisfied). In Metro Manila, it received a +78  net rating (87 percent satisfied, 9 percent dissatisfied). Meanwhile, in the Visayas, a +76 net rating was recorded (85 percent satisfied, 10 percent dissatisfied, rounded off). In "Balance Luzon," the poll yielded a +71 net rating (80 percent satisfied, 9 percent dissatisfied).

By socioeconomic class, the campaign got +79 from class E (86 percent satisfied, 8 percent dissatisfied, rounded off), +79 (84 percent satisfied, 5 percent dissatisfied) among ABC, and +76 net rating (84 percent satisfied, 8 percent dissatisfied) in class D or the masa.

"At least three in five" respondents in all areas said it is "very important" that those suspected of being involved in illegal drugs be caught alive, SWS said.

In the Visayas, this reading was at 82 percent, which is the highest among the regions. Metro Manila followed with 74 percent, "Balance Luzon" at 70 percent, and Mindanao at 62 percent.

The highest reading was recorded among classes E and D at 72 percent. Class ABC followed with 57 percent. —Luis Gorgonio/KG, GMA News