Most Pinoys feel free to criticize government – SWS

Thousands of residents, including senior citizens, endure long lines to buy rice priced at P20 per kilo at the Bureau of Animal Industry in Quezon City on March 31, 2026

The Philippine STAR / Noel Pabalate

MANILA, Philippines — Almost six in 10 Filipinos feel free to openly speak even against the government, a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

Results of the June 20 to 29 survey released Friday night found that 59 percent of the respondents agree to the statement: “I can say anything I want, openly and without fear, even if it is against the administration.”

It improved from 56 percent obtained in a similar survey in March and 50 percent in November 2024.

SWS data showed that it was the highest under the Marcos administration and since the 65 percent obtained in November 2020 during the Duterte administration.

The latest poll showed 22 percent disagreed with the statement, up from 20 percent, while 17 percent were undecided, down from 23 percent.

It resulted in a net agreement score of +33, classified by SWS as “strong.” It was obtained by subtracting those who disagreed from those who agreed with the statement.

Across areas, net agreement on the personal freedom of speech statement was highest among those in Metro Manila at +48 (from +43), followed by those in Mindanao at +40 (from +41), rest of Luzon at +39 (from +38) and the Visayas at +22 (from +24).

The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.