Pulse Asia: Most Pinoys disagree with Duterte arrest

MANILA, Philippines — More than half of Filipinos disagree with the arrest and turnover of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC), a recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed.

Results of the May 6 to 9 survey released yesterday showed that 58 percent of the respondents disagreed with the former president’s arrest for charges of crimes against humanity filed against him before the international tribunal.

Only 26 percent agreed with his arrest and surrender, while 16 percent said they were undecided on the issue.

Based on the survey, disapproval of Duterte’s arrest was highest in his bailiwick Mindanao at 96 percent, followed by the Visayas at 60 percent, balance Luzon at 42 percent and Metro Manila at 38 percent.

Approval of his arrest was highest among respondents in Metro Manila at 43 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon at 35 percent, the Visayas at 24 percent and Mindanao at one percent.

Disagreement with Duterte’s arrest was also higher across socio-economic classes, the survey showed.

The same survey also showed Duterte still enjoying high trust among Filipinos, at 63 percent. Only 17 percent said they distrust him, while 20 percent were undecided. In contrast, his successor President Marcos only obtained a trust rating of 32 percent.

Some 42 percent of the respondents said they distrust Marcos, while 27 percent were undecided.

Like her father, Vice President Sara Duterte also obtained high trust ratings among Filipinos.

Some 50 percent of the respondents said they trust the Vice President, while 25 percent said they distrust her. The remaining 25 percent were undecided.

The results of the Pulse Asia survey were different from those of other polls on the same subject.

For instance, a WR-Numero survey conducted from March 31 to April 7 showed 62 percent of the respondents voicing belief it was important for Duterte to personally stand trial in The Hague. Only 20 percent of the respondents disagreed, while 19 percent were undecided.

The poll also found that more than half or 52 percent of the respondents agreed that Duterte should be held accountable for crimes against humanity, specifically for killings related to the drug war. Twenty-four percent disagreed, while 25 percent were unsure.

In the same survey, 61 percent said they believe that it is also important to bring Duterte’s co-perpetrators to trial before the ICC, while 21 percent said their arrest was not important, and 18 percent were undecided.

The Pulse Asia survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent, while the WR-Numero survey had 1,894 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus two percent. — Emmanuel Tupas, Evelyn Macairan