The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed on Tuesday, Aug. 26, the latest results of OCTA Research’s Tugon ng Masa survey, saying it reflects strong public support for the government’s efforts to defend the Philippines’ rights in the West Philippine Sea.

DND Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the findings highlight a growing awareness among Filipinos of the challenges confronting the country in the West Philippine Sea and their resilience against China’s malign influence operations.

“The latest OCTA Research 'Tugon ng Masa' survey is a strong indicator of the acceptance by our people of our efforts to resist attempts to undermine our strategic agency and upend the rules-based international order,” he said.

“It shows a growing public awareness of the realities facing our country in the West Philippine Sea, and the unwavering resilience of Filipinos against China's malign influence operations in the country,” the defense chief added.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the survey only strengthens the military’s resolve to defend the country’s rights.

“The OCTA results show that the Filipino people understand the threat in the WPS and support the stand of the government to defend our maritime rights. This further strengthens the resolve of the AFP to protect and secure what is rightfully ours. It adds more legitimacy to our stand – and fight – when you know you have the backing of the vast majority of our people,” AFP spokesperson for WPS Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

He further stated that issues in the WPS “are the greatest threat to our existence” as a nation, and Filipinos face them together.

Based on the results of the survey, 76 percent of Filipinos strongly support efforts to assert the country’s maritime entitlements in the WPs. The same survey also showed 85 percent of Filipinos distrust China and 74 percent identify Beijing as the greatest threat to the Philippines.

The respondents said the aggressive actions of Chinese forces in the WPS as well as the influx of smuggled goods and crimes involving Chinese nationals were the main reasons for the distrust.

Teodoro said the DND remains committed to its mandate of protecting the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights in the face of Chinese aggression.

“The sustained public support for the government’s approach further strengthens our resolve in defending our rights in the West Philippine Sea under international law and affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling,” he noted.

The non-commissioned survey was conducted from July 12 to 17, involving 1,200 respondents nationwide and a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

Tensions between the Philippines and China have heightened in recent years due to repeated incidents involving Chinese coast guard, navy, and maritime militia vessels blocking or harassing Philippine ships conducting resupply and patrol missions in contested waters.

Manila has repeatedly invoked the 2016 arbitral award, which ruled in its favor against Beijing’s sweeping dash-line” claim in the South China Sea, but the latter continues to reject the decision.