Bongbong Marcos, Sara Duterte Trust Ratings Down – SWS

Public trust in President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte declined in the Social Weather Stations (SWS)’ third-quarter survey.

The Sept. 24 to 30 poll, commissioned by Stratbase group, found that 43 percent of respondents trust Marcos, down from 48 percent in June.

Duterte’s trust rating dropped to 53 percent from 61 percent in June.

Marcos is “not paying attention to survey numbers, but he is happy that people feel the President and the government are there for them,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

In a chance interview in Zamboanga City on Wednesday, Duterte said she will not speculate on why her trust rating dropped.

The Supreme Court has yet to issue a final ruling on the appeal in Duterte’s impeachment case, where she is accused of graft and corruption, among others.

“People’s eyes are open regarding who is working and caring for them and who is not thinking or (prioritizing their) personal interests,” Castro asserted.

In the survey, 36 percent of respondents said they have little trust in the President, up from 30 percent, while 21 percent were undecided, similar to the previous poll.

Respondents who had little trust in the Vice President increased to 28 percent from 23 percent, while undecided respondents increased to 18 percent from 14 percent.

Duterte had a net trust rating of +25, higher than Marcos’ +7.

Across areas, Marcos had the highest trust rating among respondents in balance Luzon (51 percent much trust, 29 percent little trust), followed by those in Metro Manila (46 percent much trust, 36 percent little trust), the Visayas (40 percent much trust, 40 percent little trust) and Mindanao (27 percent much trust, 48 percent little trust).

Meanwhile, the Vice President continued to enjoy high trust ratings among respondents in her bailiwick Mindanao (82 percent much trust, eight percent little trust), followed by those in the Visayas (56 percent much trust, 27 percent little trust), Metro Manila (44 percent much trust, 38 percent little trust) and the rest of Luzon (40 percent much trust, 36 percent little trust).

Stratbase president Dindo Manhit said the latest survey results “reflect a shifting public mood.”

“When people see decisive, transparent action on issues affecting their daily lives, confidence follows. When they don’t, it erodes – no matter how popular the leader once was. This reflects a maturing public that evaluates leaders more on performance than personality,” he added. – With Alexis Romero, Bella Cariaso