In the June 23-26, 2017 Social Weather Survey, statistically 63 percent of Pinoys (31% STRONGLY, 32% SOMEWHAT) agreed that there are drug suspects who already surrendered but were still killed.
To the question, “May mga suspect sa illegal na bentahan ng droga na sumuko na, pero pinatay pa [There are suspects in the illegal drug trade who already surrendered, yet were still killed],” 31% strongly agreed, 32% somewhat agreed, 17% were undecided, 11% somewhat disagreed, and 9% strongly disagreed [Chart 1, below].
Agreement to the statement that some of those who surrendered were still getting killed highest in Metro Manila:
The proportion of those who agreed that some drug suspects who had already surrendered to the police still end up killed was highest in Metro Manila, at 75% (41% strongly agree, 34% somewhat agree).
This is followed by Mindanao at 63% (35% strongly agree, 28% somewhat agree), Balance Luzon at 63% (26% strongly agree, 36% somewhat agree, correctly rounded), and the Visayas at 53% (28% strongly agree, 25% somewhat agree).
Malacañang had recently noted that the latest SWS survey contained what it deemed “leading and pointed questions”, which could have swayed the answers of respondents.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the Palace expected poll practitioners “to exercise prudence and objectivity” in their work.
17% know someone falsely summoned for “Oplan Tokhang”
The June 2017 survey also asked, “Mayroon ba kayong kilalang tinawag ng mga pulis para sa “Oplan Tokhang” ngunit hindi naman sila drug pusher? [Do you know anyone who had been summoned by the police for “Oplan Tokhang” but who are not really drug pushers?]”, and found 17% saying they knew someone who was summoned for Oplan Tokhang but was not really a drug pusher, while 83% did not know anyone [Chart 3].
The highest proportion of those who know someone who had been summoned for Oplan Tokhang despite not being a drug pusher was in Metro Manila at 22%, followed by Visayas at 18%, Balance Luzon at 16%, and Mindanao also at 16% [Chart 4].
The June 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 Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao).
The area estimates were weighted by Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2017 to obtain the national estimates.
The Social Weather Survey items on the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs are non-commissioned. They were included on SWS’s own initiative and released as a public service.
The exact survey questions are as follows:
Narito po ang ilang mga pangungusap tungkol sa kampanya ng gobyerno laban sa illegal na droga. Pakisabi po kung kayo ay sumasang-ayon o hindi sumasang-ayon sa mga pangungusap na ito. (Lubos na sumasang-ayon, Medyo sumasang-ayon, Hindi tiyak kung sumasang-ayon o hindi sumasang-ayon, Medyo hindi sumasang-ayon, o Lubos na hindi sumasang-ayon) [Here are some statements about the campaign of the government against illegal drugs. Please tell me if you agree or disagree with these statements. (Strongly agree, Somewhat agree, Undecided if agree or disagree, Somewhat disagree, or Strongly disagree)]: “May mga suspect sa illegal na bentahan ng droga na sumuko na, pero pinatay pa. (There are suspects in the illegal drug trade who already surrendered, yet were still killed.)”
Mayroon ba kayong kilalang tinawag ng mga pulis para sa “Oplan Tokhang” ngunit hindi naman sila drug pusher? (MAYROON, WALA) [Do you know anyone who had been summoned by the police for “Oplan Tokhang” but who are not really drug pushers? (There is; None)]
SWS employs its own staff for questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data-processing, and analysis, and does not outsource any of its survey operations.
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