Stroking SWS survey

The Social Weather Station (SWS) has a sadistic and scheming way of pleasing its clients from opposite poles. In its recent survey on public satisfaction of President Duterte, it cannot however escape the blatant truth, as its own survey results proved that 85 percent of its respondents are very satisfied with the Duterte government most especially its campaign against illegal drugs.

This, of course, pleases the tenant in Malacanang Palace, but for the dye-in-the-wool critic of the Duterte administration, they would rather highlight the 78% respondents who fear they or someone close to them might be a victim of the so-called extra-judicial killing (EJK).

But 88 percent of the same respondents, however, agree very strongly that from the time Rodrigo Duterte assumed as President, the drug menace in their area dramatically decreased. This could be attributed to Gen. Bato dela Rosa and his men. In fact, as an added feather in the cap of the top cop, survey says 70 percent of the respondents also believe that the administration is serious in solving the much ballyhooed EJK.

Can someone tell me how to reconcile fear and satisfaction? How can the same people be satisfied and at the same time afraid they will be killed. The drug campaign will go on without letup, Duterte assured us. Without belaboring the mind, we know who ought to be scared. The percentage of those who think they and their kin are targets tells us that the all-out war against illegal drugs must continue. It is human nature to be facing the grim ripper, it is another story if one has a criminal mind or for that matter one who would still peddle drugs despite all the reminders. Then that character really ought to be very very scared.

Let us look at the flip side and examine the satisfaction rating of President (Rodrigo) Duterte. Survey showed that there is an 11 points decline among respondents in Mindanao. The opposition, to include its allies in the mainstream media, harped on the Mindanao figure even as in totality the number was only an insignificant one point decline in overall net satisfaction of the administration.

The hurting Edgar Erice dubs the 11-point dip as 'very alarming' and he attributes it to EJK and poverty. Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) thinks that Duterte's hedging on the release of political prisoners and 'selective' implementation of ENDO. A National Democratic Front (NDF) peace consultant says it is expected in Mindanao. KMU and the NDF knew Duterte is in fact, going to release some political prisoners. That attempt at credit grab is hogwash.

Meantime, not to be outdone, the political adversaries of Duterte in the Senate threw in their two cents worth trying to trivialize the dip in Mindanao but intentionally brushing aside the overall satisfaction rating which still gave Duterte a 'Very Good' rating. By the way Mindanao, despite the decline, is still the most satisfied region with a score of 74 percentage points. Of course some of us expect miracles to happen in six months. It is a Herculean task to repair the damage done by the previous administration. There is an upsurge of confidence among Mindanaoans and all these jazz about EJK and poverty will only thrive in the mind of De Lima and Erice, to name a few.

What I noticed in this survey are the commentaries it elicits. It is solely focused on EJK which the political opposition and the Catholic Bishops are so pregnant with. They keep on rubbing the issue which is based on Leila De Lima's prevaricated data and human rights watch's guesstimates. De Lima, as chair of CHR and Secretary of Justice never produced any piece of evidence. So what else is new? SWS cannot help the sagging image of the moribund opposition and neither can it help solve De Lima's dilemma.

(Mr. Jun Ledesma is a community journalist who writes from Davao City comments from the perspective of a Mindanaoan)