By Azer Parrocha/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the conduct and outcome of the May 2019 elections despite glitches encountered by vote counting machines (VCMs) and delays in the pickup of results, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.
The survey, conducted from June 22-26, 2019, found that 80 percent of the 1,200 respondents are “satisfied” with the conduct of midterm elections consisting of 38 percent “strongly satisfied” and 43 percent “somewhat satisfied.”
It also showed that only 12 percent of the respondents are “dissatisfied”, consisting of 7 percent “somewhat dissatisfied,” and 5 percent “strongly dissatisfied” while 7 percent of the respondents are “undecided.”
These results give the conduct of midterm elections a net satisfaction rating of +68, classified by SWS as “very good” or 5 points below the record-high excellent +73 in June 2016.
Mindanao gave the highest net satisfaction rating at +77 or “excellent”, followed by Visayas at +71 or “very good,” Balance Luzon at +66 or “very good”, and Metro Manila at +54 or “good.”
The SWS survey also found that 79 percent “agree” with the statement “The Comelec (Commission on Elections) performed its job independently without favoring any candidate or group.”
Likewise, 11 percent are “undecided”, and 10 percent “disagree” with the statement.
This gives a net agreement score of extremely strong +70, up by 9 points from the extremely strong +61 in June 2013.
Meanwhile, the SWS survey also found that 86 percent of the respondents say the midterm election results are “believable” for senators, which are dominated by President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s allies.
It also showed that 88 percent find the midterm election results “believable” for members of the House of Representatives where Duterte’s former running-mate, Alan Peter Cayetano, was elected House Speaker.
Eighty-four percent and 89 percent found the midterm election results for governors and mayors, respectively, “believable.”
Malacañang welcomed the SWS survey results, describing it as a confirmation of the desire of Filipinos for the continuance of reforms initiated by the President.
“The voice of the sovereign people has spoken. The results of the latest survey confirm the desire of the populace for the continuance of the genuine and meaningful change President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has initiated for our country three years ago,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo said the survey results should put to rest the doubt cast by the opposition, his critics, and detractors on the conduct and outcome of midterm elections.
He also assured that the President remains committed in asking the Comelec to get “fraud-free” technology provider in the 2022 national elections.
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