The latest on the controversial drug war in the Philippines had 88 percent of Filipinos signifying their support. Now, that’s huge.
That’s what the latest Asia Pulse Research Inc. survey reported. Given the Duterte administration’s bloody war on narcotics, 88 percent of Filipinos are going for it. The survey was conducted from Sept. 24 to 30 and it revealed same levels of support from geographic areas and socio-economic groupings at 84 percent to 94 percent and 80 percent to 89 percent, according to the survey. Believe it or not, only 2 percent of Filipinos are not supportive of the campaign, while 9 percent are unable to say if they support or do not support. Less than 1 percent of Filipinos are unable to state their position on the issue. The survey showed 58 percent wanting to have the leaders of the Catholic Church to assist with the rehabilitation of drug addicts as the preferred action.
The survey also had 46 percent of Filipinos wanting the Church leaders to monitor police operations and 40 percent wanting church leaders to speak up about the police operations
The survey was conducted with the following backdrop: the Senate’s investigation into the shipment of illegal drugs worth P6.4 billion; the Senate’s hearing into the suspected hazing death of law student Horacio Castillo III; and the sacking of virtually the entire Caloocan City police force in the aftermath of the killing of teenagers Karl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman.
The survey reflected the people’s dissent on illegal drugs and their more damaging effects to innocent civilians over deaths of suspects. However, it also revealed a desire towards a more practical stance by the church leaders to be part of the campaign–the solution instead of the problem–and we mean not merely to criticize and protest over the bloody outcome or a war that was expected to turn out the way it is going.
Yes, it is understandable that the religious will eternally live through a stance of preserving and respecting human lives but there is also the more pressing need to be active in the campaign in roles the church can best be effective than barking at the state.
