Pinoys satisfied with democracy

With President Rodrigo Duterte assuring unbridled freedoms are guaranteed by government in his Independence Day speech in Kawit, Cavite yesterday, a great majority of Filipinos said they are satisfied with how democracy works in the country.

In face-to-face surveys conducted from March 23 to 27, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed 78 percent of adult Filipinos expressed satisfaction with the style of democracy they enjoy.

The number was a slight drop from the 80 percent positive ratings given on the same issue in June 2017.

The same SWS survey, with 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above as respondents, also showed 60 percent of Filipinos prefer democracy over any other kind of government compared to the 19 percent saying “under some circumstances, an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one.”

Twenty-one percent of respondents believe “it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a non-democratic regime”.

The SWS survey interviewed 300 respondents each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

President Duterte led the Independence Day celebrations at the Aguinaldo Shrine with some of members of his Cabinet and the Diplomatic Corps.

A small protest also marred the Chief Executive’s speech with militants interrupting the program several times.

The President used the incident to highlight his guarantee of the basic freedoms enjoyed by citizens as guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution.

Mr. Duterte said he completely understood their reason to rally, noting citizens enjoy freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and free expression.

“We may not understand each other but at least there is a common denominator and that is love of country,” Duterte said in his speech.

“Our Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and free expression. So, I would just advise the law enforcement to just deal with them peacefully and the maximum tolerance,” he added.

Previous articleTalented yet brokeNext articleRivals press PH on events Daily Tribune