65% of Filipinos want martial law in Mindanao to end this year
MANILA, Philippines — Majority of Filipinos believe that martial law in Mindanao should not go beyond 2019, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results released late Sunday.
Of the 1,200 adult respondents surveyed from December 13 to 16, 2019, it was found out that 65 percent of Filipino adults think martial law should lapse at the end of the year.
Only 35 percent think it should be extended beyond the December 31, 2019 deadline, while one percent did not give an answer.
The survey noted 22 percent of those who support the extension of martial law said it should be prolonged in the whole of Mindanao, 7 percent said it should be extended only in Marawi City and the province of Lanao del Sur while 5 percent believe it should be extended in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur and nearby provinces.
Mindanao has been under martial law since May 2017 following the siege of Marawi City.
Meanwhile, Malacañang earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer seek another extension of martial law in Mindanao.
‘No more threat’
Almost half or 49 percent of those surveyed agreed “there is no more threat that another Marawi-like terrorist attack can happen anywhere in Mindanao.”
While 20 percent said they strongly agree and 29 percent said they somewhat agree, 16 percent of the surveyed people still think there is a threat in Mindanao and 35 percent are undecided about the matter.
This received a “very strong” +33 net agreement score, the survey noted.
The survey also showed 55 percent of the respondents think the military has committed very few, if any, human rights abuses in Mindanao since martial law was declared.
Fourteen percent of the surveyed disagreed, while 35% were undecided about the matter. This translates to a “very strong” net agreement score of +41.
