(UPDATE – 7:20 a.m.) Results of the Second Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey showed that, while 57% support President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao, more than 6 out of 10 oppose expanding it to Visayas and Luzon.
Martial law in the Visayas
The survey found that 63% disagreed with the statement, “Pres. Rodrigo Duterte should also declare Martial Law in the Visayas.”
Some 23 percent agreed, while 13% were undecided about the matter.
Martial law in Luzon
The survey also found that 67% disagreed with the statement, “Pres. Rodrigo Duterte should also declare Martial Law in Luzon.”
To this, 20% agreed, while 13% were undecided.
Awareness, agreement, disagreement
The survey found high awareness of Mindanao Martial Law across the board. It was highest in Mindanao at 98%, followed by Metro Manila at 93%, Visayas at 93%, and Balance Luzon at 88%.
By locale, awareness of Pres. Duterte’s declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao was 93% in urban areas, similar to the 91% in rural areas.
The survey found that, among the 92% of Filipino adults who are aware of the martial law declaration, 57% said it was the right decision, while 29% said that Martial Law should have been declared only for Marawi City and the Province of Lanao del Sur, and 11% said that it should have been declared only for Marawi City, the Province of Lanao del Sur, and nearby provinces.
By class, awareness was highest in class D, or the masa, at 93%, followed by class ABC at 90%, and class E at 86%.
It was similarly high among men, at 93%, and women, at 91%; highest among 25 to 34 year olds at 96%, followed by 35 to 44 year olds at 93%, 45 to 54 year olds at 92%, 55 year olds and above at 90%, and 18 to 24 year olds at 88%.
Awareness was highest among college graduates at 99%, followed by high school graduates at 94%, elementary graduates at 89%, and non-elementary graduates at 84%.
The proportion of those who said Pres. Duterte was right in declaring Martial Law in the whole of Mindanao was highest in Mindanao at 64%, followed by Metro Manila at 58%, Visayas at 57%, and Balance Luzon at 53%.
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Survey background
The Second Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey was conducted from June 23-26, 2017 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide, 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). The area estimates were weighted by Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2017 to obtain the national estimates.
The survey questions about Martial Law are non-commissioned, and were included on SWS’s own initiative and released as a public service.
The exact survey questions are as follows:
Last May 23, 2017, the Maute group occupied parts of Marawi City in retaliation for the joint military and police forces serving a warrant of arrest for Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. Clashes ensued between both groups, several civilians died, and the Maute group burned several facilities in the city. Because of this, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte declared Martial Law in the entire Mindanao that same day.
1. Have you ever heard or read about the declaration of Martial Law of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte in Mindanao?
2. IF AWARE: In your opinion, is it right that Pres. Duterte declared Martial Law in the entire Mindanao, should he have declared it only for Marawi City and the province of Lanao del Sur, or should he have declared it only for Marawi City, the province of Lanao del Sur, and nearby provinces?
3. How much do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Pres. Rodrigo Duterte should also declare Martial Law in the Visayas.”
4. How much do you agree or disagree with this statement: “Pres. Rodrigo Duterte should also declare Martial Law in Luzon.”
SWS employs its own staff for questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data-processing, and analysis, and does not outsource any of its survey operations.