Most Filipinos oppose martial law extension, says SWS survey

Malacañang on Saturday defended the yearlong extension of martial law in Mindanao, which the majority of Filipinos opposed, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

While they opposed the extension of martial law in Mindanao, most Filipinos were satisfied with President Duterte’s performance in the fourth quarter as his ratings improved across areas and classes.

Interviewed face-to-face, 71 percent of 1,200 respondents were satisfied with Mr. Duterte’s performance, 13 percent said otherwise, and 15 percent were undecided.

SWS considers a rating of +70 and above “excellent.”

The nationwide poll was conducted from Dec. 8 to 16 and had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque attributed the finding that 62 percent of Filipinos disagreed with the martial law extension to the construction of the SWS question, which began by saying that the war in Marawi City had ended.

Sixty-six percent of the respondents believed the Armed Force of the Philippines could suppress Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorist groups even without martial law.

The fighting in Marawi ended after five months of battle between government forces and the Islamic State (IS)-inspired extremists. It destroyed most of the city and displaced 200,000 residents.

President Duterte first declared martial law over the whole of Mindanao on May 23 after the first wave of violence gripped the city. In July, Congress granted his request to extend it to Dec. 31, 2017.

Earlier this month, lawmakers again gave in to his request to extend it for one year.

Roque said Malacañang had to make people see that the siege of Marawi by extremists wasn’t all that they wanted to do.

He indicated that martial law remained necessary to thwart the terrorists’ other plans.

“With martial law in place, our defenders can establish a tighter net against these rebels and terrorists who will not stop until they are completely defeated,” Roque said in a statement.

Martial law is also vital in ensuring that Marawi City is able to rise again, he said.

“In addition, martial law will also aid our defenders in securing Task Force Bangon Marawi agencies that are carrying out the rehabilitation of Marawi City,” he said.

Malacañang also wants people to understand that martial law is key to bringing back peace to Mindanao, which is why people believe that the war is over, said Roque.

“Martial law allowed our defenders to keep the Daesh (Arab name of IS), their supporters and remnants in check. If martial law had not been implemented, the current situation in the communities in Mindanao would have been vastly different,” he said.—REPORTS FROM LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND INQUIRER RESEARCH