Most Pinoys satisfied with democracy in PH: SWS

Majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the democracy in the country, results of the first quarter 2018 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Tuesday, Independence Day, showed.

MANILA — Majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the democracy in the country, results of the first quarter 2018 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Tuesday, Independence Day, showed.

Data from the survey conducted from March 23-27, 2018, showed that 78 percent of adult Filipinos are satisfied with the way democracy works in the country.

It also showed that 60 percent of Filipinos prefer democracy over any other kind of government compared to the 19 percent saying “under some circumstances, an authoritarian government can be preferable to a democratic one.”

Meanwhile, 21 percent of respondents believe “it does not matter whether we have a democratic or a non-democratic regime”.

The nationwide survey was conducted by interviewing 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above — 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

During the commemoration of the country’s 120th Independence Day at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s speech was marred by protesters.

Duterte, who was interrupted several times, continued his speech saying that he completely understood their reason to rally noting that the 1987 Constitution itself guarantees freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and free expression.

“We may not understand each other but at least there is a common denominator and that is love of country,” Duterte said in his speech.

“Our Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and free expression. So I would just advise the law enforcement to just deal with them peacefully and the maximum tolerance,” he added.