According to the poll by public opinion firm WR Numero, more than three in five Filipinos said it was important for Duterte to personally appear before the ICC in The Hague to face charges linked to the drug war deaths under his administration. Only 20 per cent of respondents said they disagreed, while 19 per cent were unsure.
Duterte consistently enjoyed high public approval throughout his presidency, particularly for his anti-drug campaign. A 2017 Pulse Asia survey found that 88 per cent of Filipinos supported the crackdown, while a 2019 Social Weather Stations poll showed 82 per cent satisfaction, largely attributed to perceptions of reduced crime and drug use.
Today, however, the national mood appears to have changed. More than half of respondents to WR Numero’s latest survey agreed that Duterte should be held accountable for killings under his administration’s drug war, while 61 per cent believed the investigation and subsequent trial would help uncover the truth about the deaths during the drug war. Only 21 per cent disagreed, while 18 per cent were undecided.
