Among presidential candidates, President Marcos was most trusted by Filipinos to defend the Philippine territory against China and is expecting his administration to assert the rights as stated in the arbitral ruling, think tank Stratbase ADR Institute said.
Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, president of Stratbase, shared during a hybrid forum Tuesday the results of the Pulse Asia and SWS surveys that they commissioned recently.
An SWS survey in October 2021 showed 39 percent of Filipinos believe Marcos can best assert and defend the country against China. In February 2022, the same question was asked and Marcos still bested among presidential candidates with 56 percent rating.
On June 24-27, 89 percent of Filipinos asked by Pulse Asia survey said they agree that Marcos administration “must assert our rights over the West Philippine Sea as stipulated in the 2016 arbitral ruling.”
Meanwhile, 84 percent of respondents agree to the statement: “The incoming Marcos administration should form alliances with other countries to defend Philippine territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea.”
In the October 2021 SWS survey, 80 percent of Filipinos said the next president should strengthen the military capability of the Philippines, especially the Navy and Coast Guard.
Another 65 percent also approved the conduct of joint maritime patrols and military exercises with allied countries. Then 58 percent said the new administration should fully implement the terms of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Only 45 percent think that finalizing the Asean Code of Conduct in the South China Sea needs to be done by the new administration. Forty percent like to bring the issue to the United Nations General Assembly.
“Together as a nation, the people are facing a new stage of uncertainty, particularly the maritime domain,” Manhit added. “The Philippines is at a turning point in foreign policy and the Filipinos, as shown in these data, we expect nothing less from President Marcos and his new administration.”
Image credits: Malacañang Presidential Photographers Division via AP