SWS: 45% of Filipinos consider it dangerous to publish criticism of the government

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Philstar.com

October 14, 2021 | 7:43 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines – Despite Malacañang’s claim that the press is “alive and well” in the country, a recent national poll found that 45% of Filipinos think it is dangerous to publish criticism of the Duterte administration.

A Social Weather Stations survey conducted from September 12 to 16 found that 15% of Filipinos “strongly agree” while another 30% “somewhat agree” with this test statement: “It is dangerous to print or distribute anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth. “

Only 19% of the total 1,200 adults interviewed in person said they disagreed. Another 29% said they were undecided.

SWS said this equates to a “moderate” net agreement score of 26 points – a six point increase from the +20 recorded in June.

Respondents were evenly split between Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

The September survey results are a huge drop from the 65% who agreed with the statement in a similar poll in November 2020, the results of which were released last March.

“Personal freedom to speak freely against Duterte increases slightly”

Meanwhile, 42% of those polled agreed they could say whatever they wanted “openly and without fear, even if it was against President Duterte”. This was the main test statement used in previous iterations of the survey in May and June.

Another 28% were undecided while 22% disagreed. SWS said this marked a “moderate” net agreement of +20, a two point increase from June and a continued recovery from the +5 seen in May.

“However, the net agree scores in May 2021, June 2021 and September 2021 are lower than in previous surveys when the test statement was“ I can say whatever I want, openly and without fear, even if it is is against the administration “, with the exception of the lowest neutral level +3 in July 1985, during the period of [the late dictator Ferdinand] Marcos, ”SWS said.

Other findings The net danger of publishing criticisms of the administration increases in all regions except the capital region The net danger of publishing criticisms of the administration increases at all levels of education, excluding university graduates Net personal freedom to speak out against Duterte increased in Luzon Net personal freedom to speak freely against Duterte rises among high school graduates but falls among university graduates Palace congratulates Filipino journalist on her Nobel Prize but agrees with his detractors

After Filipino journalist Maria Ressa became the first Filipina to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Malacañang dragged her feet for three days before congratulating her.

While presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the administration was “happy” with the award on Monday, he also endorsed the statement released by national artist F. Sionil Jose complaining about the award. he claimed Ressa didn’t deserve.

Roque pointed out that Ressa was convicted of cyber defamation and faces numerous other cases in Philippine courts – charges which Ressa said are politically motivated.

The spokesman also claimed that the press is “alive and well” and that “no one has ever been censored” in the Philippines, even though Duterte’s allies in the House of Representatives shut down ABS-CBN last year.

Berit Ress-Andersen, president of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said that Ressa and Muratov “are representatives of all journalists who defend this ideal in a world where democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly difficult conditions. unfavorable “. – Bella Perez-Rubio with reporting by Kristine Joy Patag

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