After a year and a half in office, President Rodrigo Duterte continues to enjoy the highest approval and trust ratings among the country’s top government officials, the latest Pulse Asia survey results released on Monday showed.

The nationwide survey conducted from Dec. 10 to 15 among 1,200 respondents found 80 percent of Filipinos appreciative of the work done by President Duterte in the last quarter of 2017. Only 7 percent expressed their disapproval with the President.

Also in the survey, 82 percent of Filipinos expressed continued trust in President Duterte, while 6 percent expressed distrust in him.

Among the country’s top government officials, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno obtained the highest disapproval and distrust ratings (26 percent and 33 percent, respectively).

Sereno’s approval rating has declined from 35 percent in the third quarter to 31 percent in the fourth quarter. Her trust rating was also down from 31 percent to 27 percent at present.

Most Filipinos remain appreciative of the work done by Vice President LeniRobredo (59 percent from 57 percent) and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (57 percent from 55 percent in the last quarter of 2017.

Similarly, these key officials were trusted by most Filipinos–Robredo (58 percent from 55 percent) and Pimentel (53 percent from 52 percent).

Meanwhile, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has almost the same approval and indecision ratings (42 percent versus 37 percent), as well as trust and indecision scores (37 percent versus 43 percent).

Pulse Asia pointed out that only Alvarez and Sereno had notable changes in their performance and trust ratings between September and December 2017.

Approval for the House Speaker’s quarterly performance became more pronounced at the national level during this period (+9 percentage points).

Similar movements occurred in the rest of Luzon (+12 percentage points), “masa” or Class D (+8 percentage points), and Class E or the “poorest” (+12 percentage points).

Likewise, ambivalence or indecision whether they approve or not the lawmaker’s work eased not only at the national level (-10 percentage points) but also in Class D (-10 percentage points).

In the case of Sereno, disapproval for her performance became more pronounced in Metro Manila (+14 percentage points).

With regard to her trust ratings, the only marked movement is the decline in Metro Manila (-13 percentage points). Indecision on the matter of trusting or distrusting the Chief Justice became less manifested in Mindanao (-13 percentage points).

As for the latter’s distrust scores, they rose in the whole country (+10 percentage points) and in Metro Manila (+18 percentage points), upper-to-middle class ABC (+19 percentage points), and class D (+10 percentage points).

Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, Pulse Asia noted that it was only President Duterte who succeeded in scoring majority approval ratings (72 to 93 percent and 77 to 85 percent, respectively) and trust figures (74 to 94 percent and 78 to 85 percent, respectively).

Meanwhile, Pimentel received approval ratings in all geographic areas and socio-economic groupings (53 to 61 percent and 56 to 59 percent, respectively).

In terms of his trust ratings, the Senate President enjoyed majority figures in almost all areas (54 to 57 percent) and every socio-economic class (53 to 56 percent) but failed to gain the trust of those in the Visayas (47 percent).

Pimentel attributed the high ratings he got in the latest Pulse Asia survey to the independence of the Senate on issues facing society under the Duterte administration.

An ally of President Duterte, Pimentel acknowledged that the Upper Chamber’s willingness to fight and put an end to abuse and allegations of abuse has helped him and the Senate gain the public’s trust and satisfaction.

Pimentel made the statement following insinuations made by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez that the Senate is supposedly slow in passing measures emanating from the Lower House.

“The Senate is different. The Senate always investigates allegations of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and other abuses,” Pimentel said.

Robredo posted majority approval and trust scores in nearly each geographic area (59 to 68 percent and 55 to 65 percent, respectively) and socio-economic grouping (58 to 64 percent and 58 to 63 percent, respectively).

Pulse Asia noted that those in Metro Manila and upper-to-middle class ABC continued to withhold approval and trust in the Vice President (both 46 percent in Metro Manila and 48 percent in class ABC).

During the same survey period, of the three key institutions of government, only the Senate registered majority approval and trust scores in December 2017.

Pulse Asia said public assessment of the performance and trustworthiness of these institutions are essentially constant during the period September to December 2017.

Small majority approval and trust ratings were obtained by the Senate in December at 55 and 56 percent, respectively).

Meanwhile, approval for and trust in the House of Representatives were expressed by a near majority of Filipinos (50 and 49 percent, respectively).

Almost half of Filipinos (48 percent) have a positive opinion about the Supreme Court’s work but around the same percentages either trust it or were ambivalent toward its trustworthiness (45 percent versus 39 percent).

 Better than Aquino

In a separate survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) from December 8 to 16 with 1,200 respondents, 70 percent believe that President Duterte has worked better than former President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Only eight percent said Aquino was better than President Duterte, while 22 percent said both performances were just the same, as reported in GMAnews TV.

President Duterte received the highest approval in Mindanao at 86 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 73 percent, 64 percent in Visayas, and 63 percent in the rest of Luzon.

Meanwhile, former President Aquino’s approval was highest in Metro Manila at 10 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon and Visayas at nine percent each, and Mindanao at 3 percent.

Malacañang said that the result of the recent SWS survey supports the fact that the public already knows: President Duterte is better than his predecessor.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement following the SWS’ 2017 fourth quarter report showing that 70 percent of Filipinos believe that Duterte is better than former President Benigno Aquino III.

“I think that survey already proves what we already know as a fact,” Roque said during the Monday Palace press briefing.

Malacañang also rejoiced at the result of the latest Pulse Asia survey which showed that Duterte is still the country’s most trusted and most approved government official.

“This number showed that our people are aware of and recognized the significant strides that the President undertook in his one year and a half month in office,” Roque said.

The Palace official assured that the Duterte will continue to do his duties but called on the public to help the President.

“We assure our people that he will continue to discharge his duties with the nation’s interest foremost in his mind,” Roque said.

“With that, we call on everyone to put this appreciation into action by standing as one and helping the government as we continue to address the problem of poverty, illegal drugs, criminality and corruption,” he added.

 Dela Rosa

Director General Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), shrugged off yesterday his non-inclusion in the Magic 12 of the SWS survey for the senatorial elections in 2019.

Dela Rosa said his focus right now is to accomplish his goals as chief PNP until April 21 and possibly his stint as head of the Bureau of Corrections.

“Huwag tayo umasa diyan.Basta okay lang kung andyan tayo, nakinu-consider tayo,” said Dela Rosa.

But I should not take it seriously dahil baka mamya I will be lured into saying that I am heading towards that,” he added.

Based on the latest SWS survey, Dela Rosa was ranked 16th in the list of senatorial candidates who would win if the 2019 midterm elections was held during the survey period.

“I will just work in the best way that I can help the President bring about the reforms that he needs to institute,” said Dela Rosa. 

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Ellalyn De Vera Ruiz and Argyll B. Geducos

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