MANILA, (PNA) — The Aquino government welcomed the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that seven out of 10 Filipinos still believe that just and lasting peace is attainable, a Palace official said on Sunday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte issued the statement in an interview aired over government-run radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan following reports that majority of the Filipinos are still hopeful that an agreement can be forged between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“We hope that this will be sustained as the government continues to work and exert its best efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for our citizens in Mindanao,” she said.
According to the SWS survey results, conducted from June 28 to 30, both the Muslim and non-Muslim Filipinos still believe that the nation can attain a just and lasting peace.
The survey also shows that 34 percent of respondents in Mindanao are “very hopeful” of a peace agreement between the government and the MILF, compared to 30 percent in the Visayas, 27 percent in Metro Manila, and 24 percent in the rest of Luzon.
Public expectation of a peace agreement between the government and the MILF is also strongest in Mindanao, with 23 percent expecting it to happen this year, compared to 9 percent in Balance Luzon, 4 percent in Metro Manila, and 3 percent in the Visayas.