Majority of Filipinos support the House Quad Committee in investigating extrajudicial killings (EJKs), illegal drugs, and the now defunct Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs), according to the latest Pulse Asia survey commissioned by the Stratbase Group.
The recent Quad Comm hearings gained the support of 61 percent of Filipinos while 24 percent are undecided on the matter. Only one of 10 Filipinos (11 percent) do not favor the on-going investigations.
“For 37% of Filipinos, they expect the Quad Comm to be able to identify the government officials responsible for EJKs, illegal drug activities, and illicit POGO operations,” Stratbase reported.
“Another 27% hope the investigations will lead to the creation of new laws to address these issues, while 11% want the investigations to result in the prosecution and conviction of those involved in these criminal networks,” the report added.
Support for the investigations varied across regions. In the National Capital Region (NCR), 73 percent of respondents are in favor, followed by Balance Luzon at 66 percent and the Visayas at 59 percent.
Mindanao, a bailiwick of the Duterte family who were implicated in the investigations, showed the lowest support at 46 percent. Mindanao also had the highest percentage of respondents who said they are undecided at 30 percent.
The survey was conducted from November 26 to December 3, 2024 among 2,400 respondents, with a margin of error of ±2%.
The lower chamber last year took a bold step by initiating an investigation into key controversies of the previous Duterte administration, including the war on drugs, the EJKs of thousands of suspected drug offenders, and POGOs.
During one of the hearings, former President Rodrigo Duterte unequivocally admitted that he had instructed police officers under his command to “encourage” suspects to resist arrest, giving law enforcement the excuse to kill.
He also acknowledged the existence of the controversial Davao Death Squad.
Following the investigation, the Quad Comm recommended the filing of crimes against humanity charges against Duterte, and his key allies: Senators Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go and Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa.
Other police officials who were allegedly involved in the “drug war” during the previous term were also implicated in the charges.
