Philippines President Duterte keeps majority support despite his deadly drug war and martial law
Pew Research Centre poll finds about 78 per cent of respondents approve of the leader’s handling of the illegal drugs issue
More than three-quarters of Filipinos support President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, despite thousands of deaths and international condemnation over alleged rights abuses, a Pew Research Centre poll has found.
About 78 per cent of Filipinos approve of Duterte’s handling of the illegal drugs issue, with 62 per cent believing the government’s campaign was making progress, according to Pew’s face-to-face surveys of 1,000 adults.
The president also remained extremely popular one year after his election, with 86 per cent saying they had a favourable view of him – in line with local polls.
Since taking office in June 2016, Duterte has waged a war on illegal drugs, which Human Rights Watch estimates has claimed more than 7,000 lives. The government puts the death toll at more than 3,400 as of July.
The survey, conducted from February to May, predates a number of recent controversies over Duterte’s administration, including his declaration of martial law on the southern island of Mindanao and drug-smuggling accusations against his son.