Duterte’s trust ratings recover in December 2017 — SWS

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte’s trust ratings bounced back in the last quarter of 2017 after suffering a significant dip in September, results of Social Weathers Stations’ latest survey showed.

The Fourth Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey found 83 percent of Filipinos have much trust and seven percent with little trust on Duterte. The remaining 10 percent were undecided.

This yielded a net trust rating of +75 or excellent—one grade higher from very high +60 in September 2017.

Duterte’s net trust rating has been classified as excellent since he became the chief executive, except in September 2017.

In a separate survey, pollster Pulse Asia said that Duterte is still the most trusted government official as 82 percent expressed having big trust—two points higher than his score in September.

Six percent of those surveyed have little to no trust on Duterte, while 13 percent were undecided.  

READ: Pulse Asia: 8 of 10 Filipinos approve of, trust Duterte

SWS noted that the 15-point increase in Duterte’s national net trust rating was due to double-digit improvements in all areas.

It was excellent in Mindanao (+94), Visayas (+76), Metro Manila (73), while it remained very good in Balance Luzon (+66).

His net trust rating among classes E and D rose to +80 and +74, respectively. It stayed excellent in classes ABC with +78.

The president remained popular among both men (+75) and women (+75)—classified as excellent.

The survey was conducted from December 8 to 16 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults. It has a ± 3% error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.  

Among the news items when SWS conducted its survey was the approval of martial law extension in Mindanao, return of the Philippine National Police to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs and impeachment hearings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.