Nearly five out of 10 Filipinos support the executive order allowing amnesty for rebel groups and some members of leftist political parties, making it the least popular initiative of the Marcos administration, according to a survey conducted by Publicus Asia.
The Pahayag End of Year (EOY) 2023 Survey revealed that only 45 percent of respondents support the issuance of Executive Order 47, which establishes the National Amnesty Commission. This commission would accept applications for amnesty and determine eligibility under Proclamation Numbers 403 to 406. These proclamations grant amnesty to certain groups, including the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and Muslim secessionist groups, among others.
On the other hand, 46 percent of respondents expressed their favor for the resumption of investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Additionally, 47 percent of respondents showed support for the proposal of hiring unlicensed nurses as nursing assistants.
When it comes to the issue of hiring unlicensed nurses, the measure received the most support from the 18-24 age group, with 32 percent in favor. Similarly, individuals with low income (39 percent) and respondents without formal education background (36 percent) also showed some level of support for the measure.
Conversely, those who were more in favor of the resumption of extrajudicial killing probes were respondents from Southern Luzon (52 percent), individuals aged 18-24 (52 percent), and respondents with no formal education (55 percent). Mindanao respondents had the lowest support for extrajudicial killing investigations, with only 37 percent in favor.
Meanwhile, several other issues received widespread approval from the survey respondents. The modernization of water transport services and shipping ports received the highest level of support at 87 percent. This was followed by the proposed salary hike for public school teachers and healthcare workers at 86 percent. The Senate’s resolution to escalate concerns about China’s provocations in the West Philippine Sea to the United Nations General Assembly received 72 percent approval. The continuation of the controversial “Love The Philippines” tourism campaign garnered 68 percent support, while the refocusing of the K to 10 curriculum on foundational learning skills received 66 percent approval.
Legislative initiatives such as the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization and the franchise consolidation of PUVs into a single organization, as well as penalizing military and uniformed personnel for arbitrary internal displacement during armed conflicts, were supported by at least six out of 10 Filipino voters.
Among the respondents, those from the National Capital Region and Mindanao showed the highest level of support for the PUV modernization campaign, at 70 percent and 68 percent respectively. However, special land areas had the least approval at 55 percent.
PUV modernization also had strong support among middle-income groups, with 67 percent in favor. Conversely, those with low income, unemployed individuals, and those with no formal education were the least supportive, with support levels of 50 percent, 56 percent, and 53 percent respectively.
The Pahayag EOY 2023 Survey was conducted from November 29 to December 4, 2023, using purposive sampling composed of 1,500 respondents from the market research panel of 200,000 Filipinos maintained by PureSpectrum.
Publicus stated that the sample was restricted to registered Filipino voters.
Source: The Manila Times
