Majority Filipinos Believe Military Behind Terror Killings

by **StarmanSkye** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:24 am

MEDIA RELEASE IBON Foundation, Inc., IBON Center 114 Timog Ave., Quezon City, Philippines Tel. (632) 927-6986 * Fax (632) 929-2496 * E-mail: HYPERLINK "mailto:m... </groups/unlock?msg=8173ddc4b1695664&hl=en&_done=/group/misc.activism.progressive/browse_thread/thread/2745e11441c7c379/8173ddc4b1695664%3Fhl%3Den>@ibon.org"m... </groups/unlock?msg=8173ddc4b1695664&hl=en&_done=/group/misc.activism.progressive/browse_thread/thread/2745e11441c7c379/8173ddc4b1695664%3Fhl%3Den>@ibon.org * HYPERLINK "<<a href="http://www.ibon.org/>"www.ibon.org">www.ibon.org/>"www.ibon.org</a> <<a href="http://www.ibon.org>">www.ibon.org></a> Reference: Mr. Antonio Tujan Jr. (IBON research director) IBON JULY 2006 SURVEY MAJORITY OF FILIPINOS BELIEVE MILITARY BEHIND POLITICAL ASSASSINATIONS, WANT ARROYO TO STOP IT Results of the latest IBON Survey show that most Filipinos believe the military is to blame for the rash of political killings, and that the Arroyo government has a responsibility to stop it. Asked if they were aware that many activists, journalists, and civilians critical of the administration have been killed since 2001, 77.5% of the 1,487 respondents said yes. To find out who they think were behind the killings, respondents were asked to select from a list wherein they can give multiple answers. From this, 66.9% of the respondents who were aware of the killings said that the military and/or police are behind the political assassinations, while 39.9% think that other armed groups like the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army (CPP-NPA) and other rebel groups are behind the killings. Respondents also answered other groups such as criminal syndicates, rival activist groups, vigilantes, etc. Of the number of respondents who were aware of the political assassinations, 92.5% said that the Arroyo government should stop the killings. When asked why, 86.5% of these respondents said that it is government's responsibility to protect the lives of civilians, while 38% said that furthermore, this is because the military and police are behind the killings. The IBON July survey was conducted nationwide from June 28 to July 7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus three percent. (end) Below is the tabulation of the results of peoples' perception on political assassinations and government's responsibility to stop these. * Do you know that many activists, journalists and other civilians critical of the current administration have been killed by unidentified persons since 2001? * March 2006 July 2006 Yes na 77.54 No na 21.86 No Answer na 0.61 * - qualifier question In your opinion, who are behind these killings? * March 2006 July 2006 Military and/or police na 66.87 Rebel groups - CPP-NPA, MILF, etc. na 39.81 Not aware na 4.86 Government na 10.32 Drug addict na 0.35 Syndicate na 0.78 Rival activist na 0.17 Vigilante na 0.95 * - figures based on the total number of respondents who answered "Yes" on the qualifier question Do you think the Arroyo government has a responsibility to stop the killings? * March 2006 July 2006 Yes na 92.45 No na 6.68 No Answer na 0.87 * - figures based on the total number of respondents who answered "Yes" on the qualifier question Yes, because a March 2006 July 2006 Military and police are responsible na 38.09 It is government's responsibility to protect lives of civilians na 86.49 a - figures based on the total number of respondents who answered "Yes" on the question na- not applicable IBON Foundation, Inc. is an independent development institution established in 1978 that provides research, education, publications, information work and advocacy support on socioeconomic issues.

Majority Filipinos Believe Military Behind Terror Killings

Majority Filipinos Believe Military Behind Terror Killings

Who is online