61% Filipinos see US as defender of Philippines: Poll

MANILA: Six out of 10 Filipinos, or 61 per cent, believe the United States would defend the Philippines if invaded by another country apparently due to the mutual defense treaty between the two long-time allies, according to a private pollster.

Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported that the proporttion of those who believe the US would defend the Philippines was highest on the rest of Luzon, meaning outside Metro Manila, at 70 per cent; followed by Metro Manila at 64 per cent; Visayas, 54 per cent; and Mindanao, 48 per cent.

SWS noted the proportion was higher in overall in urban areas at 66 per cent, compared to the overall rural areas at 56 per cent.

It added it conducted the survey from June 27 to 30, with 31 per cent of the 61 per cent “strongly believing” the US would defend the Philippines and the remaining 30 per cent “somewhat believing.”

The SWS reported its indings following a major shift in the country’s foreign policy when President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte took over Malacanang Palace in June 2016 and announced that henceforth the Philippines has opted for closer relations with China and Russia instead of its long-time ally the US.

At the same time, 47 per cent of the respondents said they were aware of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries even before the survey was conducted while 53 per cent said they learned about it only during the interview, according to SWS.