Palace elated over US poll showing Filipinos' support on drug war

MALACAÑANG on Saturday expressed elation over the poll conducted by Washington-based Pew Research Center showing an overwhelming support of Filipino people on President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal drug crackdown. "Our campaign against illegal drugs and criminals continues to get unwavering support from our people. The Palace welcomes the findings of the Pew Research Center, an American think tank," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement. The survey found that Duterte still enjoyed the trust of Filipinos as he continues to deal with the drug problem in the country, despite the rising death toll of suspects that already reached thousands. The poll said 86 percent of Filipino people have a "favorable view" of Duterte himself, 78 percent support his handling of the illegal drugs issue, and 62 percent believe the Philippine government is making progress in its anti-drug campaign. The US-based pollster conducted the survey from February 26 to May 8 among 1,000 Filipino adults. Abella said the President would continue to be unrelenting in the fight against illegal drugs "until the drug apparatus is dismantled, the last drug pusher is out of the streets, and the last drug trafficker behind bars."