SWS: 81% against gov’t policy on Chinese intrusion

FOUR of five Filipinos or 81% of respondents polled reject the government’s policy of allowing Chinese intrusion in the West Philippine Sea ( WPS), the Social Weather Stations found in its Second Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey.

The survey also found net trust in China falling 42 points and two grades to “bad” -35, from neutral +7 in March.

The non- commissioned survey comes a few days after the Philippines marked on July 12 its second year since winning the Hague arbitration case in its maritime dispute with China.

The poll also found 80% of respondents agreeing that the government should strengthen the Philippine military, particularly the Navy.

The survey reported 74% wanting to bring this issue to international organizations such as the United Nations or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for a diplomatic and peaceful negotiation with China.

“Seventy- three percent ( 73%) said it is alright to have direct, bilateral negotiations between the Philippines and China to discuss the resolution of the issue of the claimed territories,” the poll also found, while 68% said the government should ask other countries to mediate in this matter.

The poll further showed China’s net trust rating at a “bad” - 38 among those who were aware of the West Philippine Sea dispute. “The net trust rating of China was at bad levels regardless of people’s satisfaction with Pres( ident) Duterte: it was highest among those who were dissatisfied with the President, at - 42, followed by those who were undecided, at - 39, and among those who were satisfied with him, at - 32,” SWS said.

The survey was conducted from June 27 to 30, through face- to- face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with sampling error margins of ± 3% for national percentages, and ± 6% each for the said areas.

DAVIDE’S CRITICISM

In a related development, the Consultative Committee to Review the 1987 Constitution (ConCom) criticized retired chief justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr.’s recent remarks about the draft federal charter.

Mr. Davide over the weekend criticized the draft charter’s not citing the West Philippine Sea in its proposed Article I on national territory. He also criticized the draft charter for being “antiFilipino,” “anti-poor,” and “prodynasty.”

ConCom in its statement on Sunday said Mr. Davide “betrays his confusion, lack of sincerity and lack of logic in the on- going debate on the proposal to revise the 1987 Constitution.” — reports by and