Palace: Filipinos ‘safer’ with gov’t’s fight vs illegal drugs, crime

Malacañang on Saturday said Filipinos feel “safer” with the fight being waged by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte against illegal drugs and criminality amid the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which revealed that 1.4 million (6.1 percent) Filipino families were victimized by common crimes over the past six months.

Read more: SWS: 1.4M Filipino families victimized by common crimes in past 6 months

“Significant strides have been made by the current administration through its war against criminality, including those related to illegal drugs. Indeed, Filipinos now feel safer knowing fully well the government’s stance against criminals and drug pushers,” Palace Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

On Friday, the SWS said that the third quarter survey result of families victimized by common crimes is 0.7 point higher than 5.3 percent or 1.2 Filipino families who reported the same in the second quarter.

Panelo said the SWS survey result was the “lowest third quarter reporting of crime victimization” despite being higher than the second quarter survey result.

“Although 0.7 [percent] higher than the second quarter, this is the lowest third quarter crime victimization reported in recent years, the highest being 13 [percent] in September 2010,” Panelo said.

Panelo added that those who remain critical of the President’s policies against criminality are either those connected to illegal activities or are members of the political opposition.

“It also becomes clear that those who remain to dissent the President’s policies are either people who are connected with illegal activities or politicians belonging to the opposition, as well as their blind followers, who cannot accept the feats of the government,” he said.

Panelo added that the President’s anti-drug campaign would be enforced until the last day of his term to ensure a safer environment.

“This achievement, however, will not render us complacent. As PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) said, his campaign against criminality and illegal narcotics shall be pursued until the last day of his term to ensure that our streets are completely safe from criminals, drug personalities and other rogue elements,” Panelo said.  /muf