MORE THAN half of respondents polled by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) are satisfied with the government’s effort in suppressing the ISIS-inspired Maute group, but also agree with the view that the terrorists could be suppressed even without martial law.

The survey results that form part of SWS’ Third Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey have found that 66% of Filipinos were satisfied with the government’s actions to neutralize the Maute terrorists, while 18% were dissatisfied, and 16% were undecided.

This yields a net satisfaction rating of good +48, which SWS noted is two points below the very good +50 last June.

(SWS terminology for Net Satisfaction is as follows: +70 and above, “Excellent”; +50 to +69, “Very Good”; +30 to +49, “Good”; +10 to +29, “Moderate”; +9 to — 9, “Neutral”; — 10 to — 29, “Poor”; — 30 to — 49, “Bad”; — 50 to — 69, “Very Bad”; — 70 and below, “Execrable.”)

While Filipinos are satisfied with government’s action on terrorism, the same survey also showed 54% affirming the view that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can suppress the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf even without martial law, while 25% expressed disagreement, and 22% were undecided.

Among regions, satisfaction with government action in suppressing the terrorists stayed very good in Metro Manila at +54 (73% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied), although down by 14 points from +68 in June.

This was followed by Mindanao, with a very good +54 (68% satisfied, 14% dissatisfied), down by 4 points from +58 last June; Visayas, where net satisfaction rose 3 points from +46 last June and stayed good at +49 (68% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied); and Balance Luzon where satisfaction also stayed good at +42 (62% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied).

By education, net satisfaction among college graduates stayed very good at +56 (73% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied), down 5 points from +61 last June; followed by very good +52 (69% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied) among high school graduates, up by 3 points from last June’s +49; good +49 (66% satisfied, 17% dissatisfied) from June to September among elementary school graduates; and moderate +24 (49% satisfied, 26% dissatisfied) among non-elementary school graduates, a 20-point plunge from +44 last June.

By religion, net satisfaction was highest among the Iglesia ni Cristo at a very good +57 (75% satisfied, 19% dissatisfied) and among religions other than Roman Catholicism and Islam at +65 (79% satisfied, 14% dissatisfied).

Net satisfaction was at a good +48 (66% satisfied, 18% dissatisfied) among Roman Catholics, and neutral +3 (29% satisfied, 26% dissatisfied) among Muslims.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared martial law in all of Mindanao on May 23, the start of the siege of Marawi City by Maute-IS terrorists. The proclamation was later extended by Congress.

But according to the survey, 54% of Filipinos agreed with the test statement that the AFP “can suppress the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf even without martial law,” yielding a “moderately strong” +29 in net agreement, SWS said.

An earlier published poll that forms part of the Third Quarter Survey showed that also 54% of respondents agree with martial law’s extension in Mindanao.

In this poll, Visayas had the highest net agreement at a very strong +36 (58% agree, 22% disagree), up 17 points from moderately strong +19 last June; followed by Mindanao at a moderately strong +29 (52% agree, 23% disagree), down 5 points from last June’s very strong +34; Metro Manila at a moderately strong +25 (54% agree, 29% disagree), 11 points down from last June’s +36; and Balance Luzon at a moderately strong +27 (52% agree, 25% disagree), down 5 points from last June’s +34.

By education, net agreement was highest among non-elementary graduates at a very strong +32 (53% agree, 21% disagree), if down 24 points from last June’s extremely strong +56; followed by a very strong +30 (53% agree, 23% disagree) among elementary graduates; moderately strong +28 (54% agree, 26% disagree) among high school graduates, and moderately strong +24 (53% agree, 30% disagree) among college graduates.

The survey also found that 60% of respondents believe that terrorist groups that invaded Marawi City “are currently receiving money from the illegal drug trade while 11% say they do not believe, and 29% are undecided,” SWS said.

Belief that these terrorists were funded by drug money was highest in Metro Manila at 72%, followed by Mindanao at 65%, Visayas at 60% and Balance Luzon at 54%.

By education, it was highest among college graduates at 71%, high school graduates at 66%, elementary school graduates at 53%, and non-elementary school graduates at 48%.

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