SWS: Public still satisfied with Duterte's war against illegal drugs

Despite mounting criticisms against the Duterte admninistration's violent war against illegal drugs, public satisfaction on the program remains high, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) disclosed on Wednesday.

The SWS survey conducted from September 23 to 27 showed that 77 percent of Filipinos remain satisfied with the Duterte administration's efforts to eradicate illegal drugs.

"Satisfaction is still high. General satisfaction on the drug trade is still high," said Vladymir Licudine, SWS director for Survey Design, Analysis and Training.

"It's now +63 (net satisfaction rating), but you will notice some changes in the different areas. In NCR (National Capital Region), from +77, it's now +61. Satisfaction is down in NCR, down in Balance Luzon, stayed the same in Visayas but up in Mindanao," he added.

EARLIER: Satisfaction on war on drugs still high, according to SWS. gmanews pic.twitter.com/GxqFHQKfBW

— Anna Felicia ???? (@annafelicia_) October 11, 2017

Licudine said the satisfaction rating probably came from the change in the number of drug addicts in the communities over the past six months.

"The satisfaction (rating) is coming from doon sa isang question na 'Gaano na karami ang drug addicts sa lugar ninyo?' Kasi ang sagot nila mas konti na. I think that is the basic response that I can give you," Licudine said.

"Kasi 'yun lang naman ang consideration ng tao eh. Nawawala ang drug addicts, I think that's the basic consideration na tinitingnan ng tao doon sa satisfaction," Licudine added.

He pointed out that 71 percent of Filipinos said the number of drug suspects in their area decreased.

Meanwhile, 12 percent of Filipinos believe that the number of suspected drug dependents in their area has not chnaged.

Nine percent said the number actually increased despite the strong efforts to curb the illegal drugs trade in their area.

EARLIER: 71% of Pinoys believed that number of drug suspects decreased in their area - SWS @gmanews pic.twitter.com/bJogH5GaNe

— Anna Felicia ???? (@annafelicia_) October 11, 2017

Licudine also pointed out that Filipinos have some concerns with the Duterte administration's war against illegal drugs.

"Although majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the illegal drug trade campaign, they have other considerations. They want drug suspects to be arrested alive. That's a clear opinion, kahit na anong question ang gamitin namin, they want it," Licudine said.

The latest survey showed that 76 percent of Filipinos perceive that it is "very important" that suspected drug personalities arrested by the police are alive while 19 percent perceive this as "somewhat important," three percent saw this as "somewhat not important," and two percent as "not at all important."

EARLIER: Majority of Filipinos want drug suspects to be captured alive, according to SWS. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/BCyO4MJsC9

— Anna Felicia ???? (@annafelicia_) October 11, 2017

Half of the 1,500 respondents nationwide also disagreed with the statement that "Drug suspects do not have the capacity to change."

EARLIER: Half of Pinoys disagreed that drug suspects do not have the capacity to change - SWS. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/zpBgmPwivc

— Anna Felicia ???? (@annafelicia_) October 11, 2017

Twenty-eight percent of Filipinos agreed that drug suspects have no capacity to reform while 20 percent are still undecided. — BAP, GMA News