Fifty percent of Filipinos want former President Rodrigo Duterte to be held accountable for his administration's bloody war on drugs.
Results of the national Social Weather Survey (SWS) conducted from September 24 to 30 shows that among the 50 percent, 31 percent "strongly agree" while 18 percent "somewhat agree" that Duterte should be held accountable for the killings related to the illegal drugs operations during his term.
The survey that was sponsored by Stratbase Consultancy shows that the highest number of Filipinos who call for accountability was recorded in Visayas with 54 percent, followed by NCR with 53 percent, Balance Luzon with 52 percent and Mindanao with 39 percent.
It also shows that 15 percent were undecided while 32 percent disagree, of which 10 percent "somewhat disagree" and 22 percent "strongly disagree" while four percent didn't know enough to give their opinion.
Most of those who disagreed were from Mindanao with 48 percent, 29 percent in NCR, 27 in Balance Luzon and Visayas.
The International Criminal Court on Friday called Duterte a ''flight risk'' as it denied his petition for interim release.
Stratbase Group President Victor Andres Manhit said that the survey underscores the growing public recognition that accountability must prevail regardless of political power.
“The data clearly show that Filipinos believe justice and rule of law are essential foundations of our democracy,” Manhit said.
"People understand that no one, not even a former president, should be above the law," he added. Robina Asido/DMS