50% say Duterte should be held accountable for drug killings

MANILA, Philippines — One in two Filipinos agrees that former president Rodrigo Duterte should be held accountable for killings in relation to his administration’s so-called war on drugs, a commissioned survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The Sept. 24 to 30 survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group, asked respondents how much they agree or disagree that Duterte “should be held accountable in the International Criminal Court for the killings related to illegal drugs during his administration.”

Fifty percent said they agree with the statement (31 percent “strongly agree,” 18 percent “somewhat agree,” correctly rounded), while 32 percent disagreed (22 percent “strongly agree,” 10 percent “somewhat disagree”).

Some 15 percent said they were undecided, while the remaining four percent said they do not know enough to give an opinion.

The survey results were released just days after the ICC ruled against Duterte’s request for interim release.

Based on the survey, there was majority support for holding Duterte accountable across areas, except in his bailiwick Mindanao, where only 39 percent supported the test statement.

It was 54 percent among those in the Visayas, 53 percent in Metro Manila and 52 percent in the rest of Luzon.

Support for holding Duterte accountable was highest among class ABC respondents at 54 percent, followed by those in classes D and E at 50 percent and 45 percent, respectively.

There was a majority support among older respondents, specifically among 45-54 (52 percent) and 55 and above age groups (62 percent).

It was lowest among those aged 25 to 34 years old (36 percent).

The survey had 1,500 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent for national percentages.

Meanwhile, Malacañang has distanced itself from the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejecting the request of the Duterte camp for his interim release.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro asserted that the Marcos administration has nothing to do with the charges against the former president before the ICC.

“Whatever the ICC’s decision, let’s just let their lawyers respond to this,” Castro said at a press briefing. — Helen Flores