Poll shows majority believe police involved in drug crimes

A SURVEY conducted late last year found that “Majorities believe policemen are involved in illegal drug trade, extra-judicial killings, and planting evidence against drug trade suspects.” The Fourth Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey of the Social Weather Stations, fielded on December 16-19, 2018, found that majorities believe “accusations that some policemen are involved in the illegal drug trade (68%), are involved in the extra-judicial killings of alleged suspects in the drug trade (66%), and often plant evidence against suspects they arrest (58%, correctly rounded).” The noncommissioned survey also found respondents divided on police claims of resistance (“nanlaban”) to drug arrests, with 44% undecided, 28% not believing the said claims and 28% believing otherwise. Belief in accusations that policemen are involved in the drug trade and in extra-judicial killings was highest in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, followed by Mindanao and the Visayas, in that order. Belief in accusations of policemen planting evidence was 59% in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon and 56% in the Visayas and Mindanao.