Gov’t rated ‘good’ in terror fight

Six of 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the government’s efforts in suppressing the Islamic State-inspired Maute group who went on a rampage and took over sections of Marawi City in May until they were flushed out by government forces in October, ending a five-month crisis, according to the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 23 to 27 this year while the battle was still raging, found that 66 percent of the 1,500 adult Filipinos interviewed were satisfied with the government’s actions against the terrorist group while 18 percent were dissatisfied and 16 percent were undecided, resulting in a “good” +48 net satisfaction score (percent satisfied minus percent dissatisfied).

Net satisfaction with the government’s efforts against terrorists was highest in Metro Manila and Mindanao at “very good” +54. It was “good” +49 in the Visayas and “good” +42 in Luzon.

The military said more than 1,000 people were killed in the 148-day battle to retake the city from terrorists. —INQUIRER RESEARCH