SWS: 65% of Pinoys oppose cash rewards for cops for every slain drug suspect

More than three-in-five Filipinos oppose giving cash incentives to police officers for every killed suspect allegedly involved in illegal drugs, according to the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The survey results released on Tuesday showed that 65 percent of Filipinons—46 percent strongly disagree and 19 percent somewhat disagree—said it is wrong for cops of the Philippine National Police to receive cash rewards after conducting police anti-illegal drug operations.

Only 15 percent of Filipinos agreed with the cash reward, leading to a net agreement score of -50 (65 percent disagree minus 15 percent agree).

Twenty percent of respondents, meanwhile, said they were undecided.

SWS conducted the survey from September 23 to 27, 2017 using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide. Sampling error margins were ±3 percent for national percentages, ±4 percent for Balance Luzon, and ±6 percent in Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Sought for reaction, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos reiterated their denial on the existence of rewards for police officers involved in the campaign against illegal drugs.

“There is no cash reward for police for every slain drug suspect,” Carlos said in a text message to GMA News Online.

By area

According to the SWS survey, respondents from the National Capital Region had the most opposition to the incentive at 74 percent, followed by Balance Luzon at 69 percent, Visayas at 59 percent, and Mindanao at 56 percent.

In February, a report by Amnesty International showed that a police officer who took part in anti-illegal drug operations claimed he received P15,000 "under the table" for every drug suspect he killed. 

PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa denied the AI report, daring those who are accusing the government of paying policemen for every drug suspect killed to file charges before the Office of the Ombudsman. 

President Rodrigo Duterte also denied the report, saying it was the PNP's job to go after drug suspects and he wouldn't pay a fee for every dead drug personality. 

From July 1, 2016 to Sept. 15, 2017, a total of 3,850 drug suspects died in police operations. Authorities have maintained that these suspects fought it out with arresting officers.

Meanwhile, 85 police officers and soldiers have been killed while conducting anti-illegal drug operations while 204 have been critically wounded.

As of September 26, a total of 1,308,078 drug suspects have surrendered while 113,932 have been arrested.

Last month, Duterte tasked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as the "sole agency" to lead the war on drugs with the PNP acting as ad hoc task forces. 

A separate SWS survey released in October found a decline in the number of Filipinos who believe the PNP's claims that drug suspects slain by police officers had resisted arrest ("nanlaban"). 

The poll found that 37 percent of respondents said that the PNP was not telling the truth on suspect slayings. Among these respondents, 19 percent said the police were definitely not telling the truth, and another 19 percent said the police were probably not telling the truth.

Another SWS survey showed that 49 percent of Filipinos who know someone summoned for the government's "Oplan Tokhang" believe that none or not all of those called up are drug addicts and pushers. 

Capacity to mend ways

Meanwhile, the third quarter poll said 51 percent of Filipinos disagree (28 percent strongly disagree and 23 percent somewhat disagree) that drug suspects no longer have the capacity to mend their ways.

Twenty-eight percent, on the other hand, agreed that suspects do not have the chance to change anymore, while 20 percent said they were undecided. —with Amita Legaspi/KG/KBK, GMA News