Palace: People still support Duterte despite criticisms

MANILA, Philippines —  Malacañang said on Wednesday that the latest survey results showing high but declining trust and performance ratings for President Rodrigo Duterte demonstrate that the sentiments of the Filipino people have not been dampened by “orchestrated events” from parties threatened by the government’s housecleaning efforts.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that latest survey results showed that the people still support the president’s vision for the Philippines despite continuing local and international criticism of Duterte.  

Abella said that the survey coincided with some of the most serious issues facing the president such as the filing of the impeachment complaint against him, the Senate appearance of former police officer Arturo Lascañas, the release of highly critical reports by human rights groups and the video message of Vice President Leni Robredo.

“The people continue to embrace the President’s vision of a nation that works for the prosperity of all; a trustworthy government; and lasting peace, considering that the survey coincided with vicious noise from the President’s fiercest critics,” Abella said.

On Wednesday, Pulse Asia released its survey results that showed that the president’s performance and trust ratings remained high although they declined compared with the results of a similar survey in December.

According to Pulse Asia, the president’s performance rating was at 78 percent this March from 83 percent in December. His trust rating slipped from 83 percent in December to 76 percent last month.

The survey also showed that the chief executive remained popular in Mindanao (90 percent) and Visayas (84 percent). However, these figures were two and three percent lower than his previous ratings in the regions.

Duterte suffered a 10-percent drop in Balance Luzon where he got 67 percent in March from 77 percent in December. He also saw a five-percent dip in his Metro Manila rating, from 79 percent to 74 percent this March.

In terms of socioeconomic class, the president saw a 12-point increase among ABC classes, from 72 percent last quarter to 84 percent. Among class D, he had a seven-percent drop to 76 percent while he got 74 percent among class E.

Abella said that despite the “orchestrated events” from the president’s detractors the people, especially those unheard and underserved by past administrations, were still supportive of his government.

“Nevertheless, the seemingly orchestrated events from parties threatened by the housecleaning efforts of the current administration have not dampened the sentiments of the common people, and those unheard and underserved by past administrations,” Abella said.

He said many Filipinos still appreciated the chief executive’s decisiveness as he blasted presidential critics such as Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV whom Abella labeled as “opportunists.”

“The continued high approval of PRRD et al. as validated by the latest survey results, proves that the majority appreciate the decisiveness of President Duterte, and that the attacks of opportunists like Trillanes and his ilk are baseless and malicious,” the presidential spokesman said.

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