A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed that there is "growing" support for the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into drug-related killings that occurred in the Philippines under the Duterte administration.

SWS vice president Jay Sandoval presented the December 2023 survey results at the 2024 SWS Survey Review on Thursday, Feb. 8

SWS found that Filipinos’ knowledge about the ICC investigation regarding the drug-related killings during the Duterte administration has increased from 34 percent in March 2023 to 44 percent in December 2023.

“In terms of approval for the ICC investigation, it [Filipinos’ support] is growing. On whether the ICC should investigate drug-related killings, it used to be 45 percent [in March 2023], now it’s 53 percent [in December 2023]. So, [there is a] slight increase,” Sandoval said.

The difference between the percentages of approval and disapproval, or net approval, also increased from net +21 in March 2023 to net +33 in December 2023, he added.

“As to whether the Philippine government should allow the ICC investigation, there was also an increasing approval, from net +28 (48 percent approval, 20 percent disapproval) to net +37 (57 percent approval, 19 percent dissaproval),” Sandoval said.

However, majority of Filipinos remained unsure whether the ICC would be able to conduct an impartial investigation into the drug-related killings during the Duterte administration—from 56 percent in March 2023 to 55 percent in December 2023.

Twenty-two percent said they had "much trust" and 22 percent said they had "little trust," resulting in a net rating of +1 in March 2023.

In December 2023, 29 percent said they had much trust and 16 percent said they had little trust, resulting in a net rating of +12.

The Fourth Quarter 2023 SWS survey was conducted from Dec. 8 to 11 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide.