Several lawmakers at the House of Representatives said they share the opinion of many Filipinos who think that slain drug suspects did not really put up armed resistance ("nanlaban") during police operations.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza said he is one of those who do not believe that every drug suspect killed in police operations shot it out with the authorities.

"Kasama na ako sa mga hindi naniniwala," Atienza said.

The results of a Social Weather Station survey showed that 54 percent of the respondents doubt that many people killed during police operations fought back.

Kabayan party-list Representative Harry Roque said he has criticized the Philippine National Police (PNP) over its claim that many drug suspects retaliated during an anti-drug operation.

"Kami naman binatikos namin ang PNP sa budget hearing dahil hindi rin kami naniniwala na ganun kalala, ganun karami ang nanlaban," he said.

"At patuloy naman po ang aming pakikiusap na kinakailangan paganahin natin ang sistema ng ating katarungan dahil baka tuluyang mawalan ng tiwala ang ating taumbayan sa hukuman," he added.

For his part, ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said the results of the survey only shows that many Filipinos have become aware of the rampant extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in the war on drugs.

"Alam nila na dahil sa mga pahayag ni Pangulong Duterte na malaganap na gawain ngayon ng pulis yung pagpatay ng mga suspek pa nga lang, galing sa mahirap tapos pinapatay tapos pinalalabas na nanlaban," he said.

"So 'yun 'yung isa sa pinakamabigat na consequence nung drug war ni Pangulong Duterte na nagiging malaganap ang practice ng mga law enforcement units na sila mismo ang lumalabag sa pundamental na karapatan ng mga mamamayan," he added.

Fellow ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, on the other hand, said that the survey will remain mere opinion if it is not proven in a "scientific way."

"Katulad nga sana sa mga hearings, yung mga dapat na ibigay na data na kailangan ay dapat na maibigay. Tingin natin dapat na i-pursue dito sa House yung pag-hear sa mga extrajudicial killings," she said.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, meanwhile, questioned the methodology of the survey.

“It seems the 2nd Quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) Survey contains leading and pointed questions that may have unduly influenced the answers of respondents,” he said in a statement. — BM, GMA News