Atleast 65 percent of adult Filipinos said it was dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, “even if it is the truth,” according to the latest Social Weather Survey (SWS).
In its fourth quarter 2020 survey published by SWS on Friday, 65 percent of adult Filipinos agreed with the statement, “It is dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth.”
At the same time, the survey found 65 percent agreeing with the statement, “I can say anything I want, openly and without fear, even if it is against the administration.”
The statement “I can say anything I want, openly and without fear, even if it is against the administration” was first tested by SWS in July 1985, during the Marcos regime, and found only 33 percent agreed, while 29 percent disagreed, for a record-low net agreement of a neutral +3.
Net agreement rose to a strong +39 in May 1986 and reached its all-time high of a very strong +63 in March 1987.
Freedom of speech has been probed 46 times from 1985 to the present. Its net score averaged +33 during the administration of Cory Aquino, +38 in the time of Fidel Ramos, +41 in the time of Joseph Estrada, +34 in the time of Gloria Arroyo, and +32 in the time of Noynoy Aquino.
In the six times it was surveyed in the time of Rodrigo Duterte, it ranged from a moderate +23 to a strong +49.
Net danger in publishing things critical of the administration rises in all areas
Net agreement with the statement, “It is dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth,” is highest in Mindanao (+58), followed by the Visayas (+55), Balance Luzon (+47), and Metro Manila (+30).
Net agreement with the statement, “I can say anything I want, openly and without fear, even if it is against the administration,” is highest in the Visayas (+59), followed by Mindanao (+55), Balance Luzon (+42), and Metro Manila (+28).
Meanwhile, Malacañang encouraged Filipinos to exercise their right to express their views on government policies, assuring them that President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration uphold free speech in the Philippines.
In a virtual presser, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he saw no reason for the Duterte government to curtail Filipinos’ freedom of speech and expression.
“The public should not hesitate to exercise their right to free speech because that is guaranteed under the 1987 Constitution,” Roque said.
Roque issued the statement in reaction to the SWS poll which revealed that majority of Filipinos thought printing or broadcasting anything critical of the administration was dangerous.
