Palace thanks Filipinos as PH named among world’s safest countries

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday thanked Filipinos for “recognizing” the Duterte administration’s campaign to maintain peace and order in the country.

Washington-based analytics firm Gallup ranked the Philippines among the top 50 safest countries in 2019. With a law and order index score of 84, the country was tied with Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Serbia.

READ: Gallup: PH 12th safest country 

“Kahit papaano po kinilala po nila ‘yung prayoridad ng ating Pangulo na panatilihin talaga ang peace and order sa ating lipunan,” Roque said in a televised press briefing.

(Somehow, the people recognized the priority being given by our President to maintain peace and order in our society.)

“Maraming maraming salamat po at ito pong kumpiyansa na ibinigay ninyo sa pamamagitan ng survey na ito ay patunay na patuloy po tayong nagsusulong na maibalik po talaga ang peace and order sa ating komunidad,” he added

(Thank you very much and this confidence that you have given through this survey is a proof that we continue to push for the restoration of peace and order in our communities.)

Gallup’s 2020 Global Law and Order Report was based on the answers of nearly 175,000 adults in 144 countries and areas in 2019.

The firm said “the higher the score, the higher the proportion of the population that reports feeling safe.”

Duterte won the presidency in 2016 with a campaign against criminality and drugs. However, his leadership was marred with accusations of human rights violations due to his brutal war on drugs that has killed thousands of drug suspects. [ac]