ROUGHLY eight of 10, or 80 percent, of Filipinos expressed satisfaction over the conduct and results of the May 13, 2019 elections, according to the June survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The SWS, in its June 22 to 26 poll, found that 80 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the midterm polls. Thirty-eight percent of the 80 percent said they were "strongly satisfied," while the other 43 percent said they were "somewhat satisfied."
Twelve percent were "dissatisfied" (seven percent "somewhat dissatisfied" and five percent "strongly dissatisfied") with the conduct of the May elections in the country, while the remaining seven percent were ambivalent on the matter, the survey showed.
The poll results posted a net satisfaction score of "very good" +68.
Net satisfaction was highest in Mindanao ("excellent" +77), followed by the Visayas ("excellent +71), Balance Luzon ("very good +66"), and Metro Manila ("very good" +54).
The same survey revealed that 79 percent "agreed" that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had performed its job "independently without favoring any candidate or group," 10 percent disagreed, while the remaining 11 percent did not give a definite answer.
The SWS recorded a net agreement rating of "extremely strong" +70.
Net agreement on the impartiality of the Comelec was "extremely strong" in all areas, the SWS stressed.
It was highest in the Visayas at +77, followed closely by Mindanao (+76), Balance Luzon (+69), and Metro Manila (+51).
The poll further showed that 86 percent thought the May 13 poll results were "believable" for senators, 88 percent for congressmen, 84 percent for governors, and 89 percent for mayors.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Palace was pleased with the results of the SWS poll.
"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," he said.
"The survey results should put to rest the doubt cast by the vociferous and partisan minority upon the integrity of the midterm elections, as well as put a halt to their condescending and elitist remarks on the preference of the Filipino majority," Panelo added.
Panelo also said the President remains committed to asking the Comelec to have a "fraud-free" technology provider in 2022 as part of his lasting electoral reform legacy to the nation.
The SWS interviewed 1,200 adults, using sampling error margins of ±3 percentage points for national percentages, and ±6 percentage points each for Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. (Ruth Abbey Gita/SunStar Philippines)