7 in 10 say Phl must continue to assert WPS rights

Seven in 10 Filipinos believe that the Marcos administration should continue to assert its rights in the West Philippine Sea, a survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed.

- JANVIC MATEO, Michael Punongbayan, Emmanuel Tupas, Ghio Ong, Marc Jayson Cayabyab

The June 26 to 30 survey, commissioned by the Stratbase group, found that 73 percent of the respondents agreed that the current administration must continue to assert the country's rights in the region in line with the continuous aggression of China." The survey result was presented by Stratbase president Dindo Manhit during a forum held in commemoration of the ninth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award on issues related to the South China Sea.

Based on the survey, only seven percent disagreed that the current administration should assert the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the arbitral ruling.

Eight percent said they cannot say if they agree or disagree, while two percent said they do not have enough knowledge to give an opinion.

Across areas, those who agreed that the Philippines must continue to assert its rights was highest among those in Metro Manila at 83 percent, closely followed by those in the rest of Luzon at 82 percent.

Manhit noted that the lower number in the Visayas (60 percent) and Mindanao (59 percent) pulled down the overall figure.

Conversely, those who disagreed with the test statement was highest among those in Mindanao at 14 percent, followed by those in the Visayas and Metro Manila at seven percent and the rest of Luzon at two percent.

Ambivalence was highest among those in the Visayas at 29 percent, followed by those in Mindanao at 22 percent, balance Luzon at 15 percent and Metro Manila at nine percent.

Pulse Asia has yet to release the full results of the survey. Its June poll had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.8 percent.

US slams China