According to a recent survey conducted by OCTA Research, nearly six out of ten Filipinos are in favor of the Philippines rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC) and are urging the government to cooperate in the tribunal’s investigation of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs. The “Tugon ng Masa” survey, held from December 10 to 14, 2023, revealed that 59 percent of the respondents supported the country’s return to the ICC, while 41 percent were not in favor.
To ensure that all respondents were well-informed, OCTA provided an explanatory card with the basic definition of the International Criminal Court and its functions. This approach aimed to contextualize the survey question for an international audience, taking into account the varying levels of familiarity with the ICC among Filipinos.
The survey results showed that respondents from Luzon were the most supportive, with 65 percent in favor of the Philippines rejoining the ICC. Mindanao followed with 51 percent support. On the other hand, 49 percent of Mindanao respondents expressed their opposition to rejoining the ICC, while 35 percent of respondents in Balance Luzon shared the same sentiment.
When analyzed by socioeconomic class, it was found that 67 percent of respondents from Class ABC supported the Philippines’ return to the ICC, while 42 percent of those belonging to Class D expressed their support. These findings highlight the varying perspectives on the matter based on different economic backgrounds.
Further regional breakdown revealed that respondents from Northern Mindanao exhibited the highest support for rejoining the ICC, with an overwhelming 92 percent in favor. Conversely, the Davao Region had the lowest support at only 10 percent. These regional differences may be attributed to a range of factors, including local laws, customs, and personal experiences related to the drug war.
In addition to rejoining the ICC, the survey also asked respondents whether the government should cooperate with the tribunal in the investigation of the drug war. The results showed that 55 percent of respondents were in favor of government cooperation, while 45 percent preferred non-cooperation.
When analyzed by region, respondents from Balance Luzon had the highest support for government cooperation at 65 percent, while Mindanao had the lowest at 42 percent. These regional variations suggest that there is a diversity of opinions within the country regarding the extent of government involvement in the ICC investigation.
It is important to note that the survey had a sample size of 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent. While the findings provide valuable insights into public opinion, they should be interpreted with caution and considered as a snapshot of the prevailing sentiment at the time of the survey.
The OCTA Research survey sheds light on the perspectives of Filipinos regarding the country’s potential reentry into the International Criminal Court and the government’s cooperation in the investigation of the drug war. The results indicate that a majority of Filipinos are in favor of rejoining the ICC and believe in the importance of government cooperation in addressing the issues surrounding the drug war. These findings serve as a basis for further discussions and deliberations on the matter, taking into account the diverse opinions and regional variations within the country.
Source: The Manila Times
