• From the Office of the Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on the 4th Quarter 2016 SWS Survey
• Pinoys satisfied with drug war, believe crime went down
• Duterte plays Santa to PSG

We are thankful to the Filipino people for their continued expression of satisfaction on the Duterte administration’s war against illicit drugs as reflected in SWS 4th Quarter Surveys.

The success of the first phase of President Duterte’s war against illegal drugs is evident when  great majority (85%) of our people – from the previous third quarter’s 84%– remains satisfied with the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.  Almost nine of ten Filipinos further said that the drug problem in their areas lowered since the President took office on June 30.

On the worry of Filipinos about becoming victims of extrajudicial killings, we recognize our people’s concern as we assure them that the government’s anti-drug operations are not aimed at poor, innocent, hapless individuals.

Extrajudicial killings are not state-sponsored and we denounce riding-in-tandem murders perpetrated by common criminals wrongly attributed in news reports as part of police operations.

Murder is murder.  What our authorities are conducting are legitimate police operations that require observance of operational protocols.  Police authorities who violate procedures are made to answer before the law.  Suspected drug personalities who resist and fight back with arms have to be dealt with appropriately.  The proper enforcement of our laws requires the use of reasonable force merited by the attendant circumstances.

While 78% of our people are worried about EJKs, not far from that figure – 70% — said that the Duterte administration is serious in addressing the problem of EJKs.  We therefore thank our people for their constant and steadfast support.

Rest assured that the Duterte administration respects the law and uphold the basic rights of our people, regardless of beliefs and political persuasions.

 A great majority of Filipinos remains satisfied with the performance of the Duterte administration in its campaign against illegal drugs, according to the 4th quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Conducted from December 3 to 6, the SWS survey showed a satisfaction rating of 85 percent, a notch higher than the 84 percent recorded last quarter.

“We are thankful to the Filipino people for their continued expression of satisfaction on the Duterte administration’s war against illicit drugs. The success of the first phase of President Duterte’s war against illegal drugs is evident,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

The 4th quarter survey also showed a sizeable 88 percent of Filipinos saying there has been a decrease in drug problem in their areas since President Rodrigo Duterte took office on June 30.

When it comes to the government’s seriousness in solving killings under investigation, the same SWS survey found 70 percent of Filipinos believing the Duterte administration is serious about solving these cases.

“Killings under investigation are not state-sponsored,” Andanar reiterated, “Many of these murders are perpetrated by common criminals wrongly attributed in news reports as part of police operations,” he added.

The Duterte administration assures the Filipino public that it respects the law and uphold the basic rights of our people, regardless of beliefs and political persuasions.###MARO-CONTENT

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Dec. 19, distributed cash gifts, bonuses and educational benefits to the members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

Duterte gave the members of the PSG Christmas bonus of P5,000, combat pay, 14th month pay, and P5,000 from the Office of the President.

Military and police children will be entitled to free education, according to Duterte.

“As I have promised, I will work on this year and it will be this year, na lahat ng edukasyon ng sundalo, pati pulis, mga anak, libre na. Gobyerno ang magbayad,” he said.

In his message during the command Christmas boodle fight, Duterte called on the military and police to bolster his war on illegal drugs to protect the people.

“I am ordering you to destroy the apparatus that includes the structure, mga building, mga factory ng shabu pati yung taong nandiyan,” he said.

Duterte reiterated that the country’s military should be loyal to the Constitution at all times.

“Trabaho lang kayo. Just remain loyal to the Constitution.

Do not be loyal to me. If I have committed a grave error, you can do what you want. But preserve the presidency because it is needed by our country,” he said.

Duterte also talked about his overseas trips in the first six months of his term, articulating further that it had been necessary for him to visit the country’s neighbors because the Philippines would be hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next year.

“You know. I have been to places. But if you ask if I enjoyed it, my trips, I do not. I hate to travel. But the problem is I have to go around to get the feedbacks in advance because we are hosting the summit next year, ASEAN,” Duterte said.

“I have to get their thoughts, ‘yung mga policy na ilabas namin, so that by the time the summit is already here, alam ko kung anong ilagay ko sa agenda, kung ano ‘yung gusto ng Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam,” he added.

Meanwhile, Duterte acknowledged the SMC Foundation for sharing a gift pack and a cash gift of P1,000  to each member of the security group.

After his speech, President Duterte joined the PSG personnel and their families in a military style of eating, known as “Boodle Fight.”###PND