Almost 50% believe illegal drug use punishable by death

Nearly half of Filipino adults think that using illegal drugs is punishable by death, according to a latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The June 23-26 SWS poll also showed almost six in 10 Filipinos who mistakenly believe that selling of illegal drugs is punishable by death.

Belief in existence of the death penalty for drug use was higher in Mindanao and the Visayas at 52 percent each, followed by the rest of Luzon with 44 percent.

Metro Manila had the lowest proportion of respondents who believed that illegal drug use is punishable by death, with 39 percent saying it is true.

The Philippines does not impose the death penalty for any criminal offense. Capital punishment was abolished on June 30, 2006 during the term of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Meanwhile, the survey also found 56 percent of Filipino adults saying that they do not know about any rehabilitation program for drug surrenderees, with 44 percent saying they do.

Metro Manila had the highest proportion of those who know of rehabilitation programs for surrenderees at 62 percent, followed by balance of Luzon at 43 percent, and the Visayas and Mindanao each with 40 percent.

The non-commissioned survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults 18 years old and above nationwide.