EDITORIAL – Safer

In the latest Gallup survey, the Philippines maintained its ranking in the list of the world's safest countries. In its 2018 Global Law and Order report, the research firm said safety in the country is at par with some developed countries.

Among the more than 100 countries, the Philippines has the same index rate of 82 it received in 2017. Croatia, Poland, Israel, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Serbia, Australia, South Korea, Romania, Iran, and Sri Lanka were also in the same index rate.

"The 2018 Global Law and Order report presents the results from Gallup's latest measurements of people's sense of security in their neighborhoods and their personal experiences with crime and law enforcement, based on more than 148,000 interviews with adults in 142 countries and areas in 2017," Gallup said.

Many would be quick to assume that the main reason for the country's high mark in the safety survey is the heightened campaign against crimes, especially the illegal drug trade, under the Duterte administration.

And we cannot blame them for feeling safe amid those operations against drugs in their neighborhood that killed many suspects. For the last two years, the government's aggressive anti-drug campaign has created an atmosphere of peace and order with more Filipinos no longer afraid to go out of their house at night.

Yes, illegal drugs has largely contributed to the deterioration of the country's peace and order. For decades, as they have managed to penetrate even the remotest areas in the country, illegal drugs have caused breakdown in the moral fabric of society, wrecking homes and tearing families apart.

Low crime rate is equal to lesser illegal activities happening in a certain locality. And that would only mean there is a certain amount of peace and order in the neighborhood that gives people the natural impression to feel safe.

Of course, it's not only the intensified anti-drug campaign but the overall effort of the authorities against all forms of criminality that makes Filipinos feel safer nowadays.