PH among ‘safest countries’ in the world—Gallup

IN another global survey whose result can only add to the dismay and shame of government critics, the prestigious ‘Gallup Polls’ has ranked the Philippines as among the “safest countries” in the world, in terms of Filipinos’ confidence on police and law enforcement agencies.

In its ‘2020 Global Law and Order’ report released last week, the Philippines had an index of 84, along with Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Serbia.

“The higher the score, the higher the proportion of the population that reports feeling safe,” Gallup explained.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Eduardo M. Año, in a statement last November 3, 2020, described the poll result as “excellent” as it placed the Philippines in the top 50 countries where their citizens expressed satisfaction in their respective peace and order situation.

“The 84 percent rating garnered by the Philippines in the Global Law and Order report is proof that the government is winning the war against criminality and drugs and that the people appreciate and recognize the significant accomplishments of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies,” Secretary Año said.

The DILG has supervision over the PNP.

“It is very reassuring for us working in the government knowing that the people feel safe in their homes and on the streets.

“Itong 84 percent rating na nakuha ng Pilipinas na kumakatawan sa tiwala ng mga Pilipino ay magsisilbing inspirasyon at hamon para sa pamahalaan,” Año added.

The survey, conducted by Gallup from Oct. 8 to Oct. 24 in 2019, found that over 80 percent of the 2,090 Filipinos interviewed face-to-face or 8 out of 10 Filipinos felt secure, based on their own experiences with crime and law enforcement, the DILG chief pointed out further.

Singapore and Turkmenistan topped the list with a law and order index score of 97 followed by China with 94, and Iceland and Kuwait with 93.

Afghanistan was considered least safe and placed at the bottom of the list with an index of 43, followed by Gabon with 52, and Venezuela and Liberia with 54.

The PH standing is also just a point away from the United States, France, Sweden and Japan (85) two points shy from Vietnam (86) and 5 points away from Indonesia (89), its other neighbors in the ASEAN region.

Año said the outcome of the survey, covering 144 countries, is a clear reminder to the law enforcers on the ground that the people see and recognize their sacrifices and hard work, especially in the middle of the pandemic where thousands of cops and soldiers were inflicted by the deadly virus.

P/Lt. General Guillermo Eleazar, PNP deputy director for administration and head of the government’s ‘Joint Task Force COVID Shield,’ already reported to Año that 8 ‘focus crimes’ (Murder, Homicide, Physical Injury, Rape, Robbery, Theft, Carnap both for Motorcycle and Vehicle) within 223 days of the community quarantine period have declined by 46 percent or 17, 974 reported crime incidents from March 17 to October 25, 2020.

The Gallup poll result came after a survey conducted by Pulse Asia reported that despite the pandemic and the incessant attacks on the government by critics and the communists, Pres. Duterte registered a whooping, 91 percent trust and approval rating.

Pulse Asia also reported that 84 percent or eight out 10 Filipinos have positive opinions about the work done by the Duterte administration in battling the COVID-19 crisis.