MANILA, Philippines — More Filipinos are worried about the health of President Duterte, the 4th quarter survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed.
Conducted from Dec. 16-19 with the results released Wednesday night, it showed that 66 percent of Filipinos are worried about the President’s state of health (22 percent worried a great deal, 44 percent somewhat worried).
The figure was 11 points higher than the 55 percent who said that they are worried about Duterte’s health in a survey conducted in September (18 percent worried a great deal, 38 percent somewhat worried, correctly rounded).
On the other hand, the number of those not worried about the President’s health dropped from 44 percent (22 percent not too worried, 23 percent not worried at all, correctly rounded) in September to only 34 percent (16 percent somewhat not worried, 18 percent not worried at all) last month.
The December 2018 survey, which used face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults, also found that 49 percent believed Duterte has health problems – more than double the 24 percent who believed otherwise – for a net belief score of +25. This was six points above the +19 registered in September 2018.
Twenty-seven percent are undecided about the matter.
Worry about Duterte’s health is high especially in his bailiwick Mindanao at 73 percent (up by 12 points from 61 percent in September 2018), followed by Metro Manila at 66 percent (up by seven points from 59 percent), the Visayas at 66 percent (up by 15 points from 51 percent) and the rest of Luzon at 63 percent (up from 53 percent).
Based on socio-economic status, worry about Duterte’s health was highest among those identified as belonging to Class E at 70 percent (up from 51 percent), followed by Class D at 65 percent (up from 56 percent) and Class ABC at 65 percent (up from 57 percent).
The survey also showed that the net belief that Duterte has health problems is stronger in Metro Manila, urban areas and the upper classes.
It was highest in Metro Manila at +31 (same as +31 in September), followed by balance Luzon at +28 (up from +21 in September), the Visayas at +26 (up from +14 in September) and Mindanao at +14 (up from +12 in September).
It was higher in overall urban areas at +29 (same as +29 in September) compared to the overall rural areas at +22 (up from +12 in September) and highest in classes ABC at +31 (up from +19 in September), which were followed by class E at +27 (up from +8 in September) and class D at +24 (up from +21 in September).
The survey had an error margin of +/- 2.6 percent for national percentages.
‘People concerned’
Malacañang said the survey reflected the public’s concern for the President and their “resounding rejection” of the opposition.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the survey proved that a huge chunk of the Philippine population care about Duterte.
“We look at these survey results with a positive outlook. It means that not only many Filipinos love the President but those who care for him have increased by 11 percent. Translated into the number of Filipinos caring for the President, that’s a huge chunk of the population,” Panelo said in a statement.
He added, “The survey results show that an overwhelming number of Filipinos are praying for his good health, for his wellbeing and for him to finish his term.”
Panelo said Filipinos who are concerned about Duterte’s health are worried that the President – “who is offering his freedom and his life so he could save the succeeding generation from being addicted to illegal drugs and from the clutches of certain death” – would not last the presidency.
“They fear that such an unwelcome event will deprive them of the genuine change they have seen in his unorthodox, tough yet compassionate and caring governance… Our countrymen would not want to be stripped of the searing iron-clad political will kind of leadership given them by a debilitating disease or an untimely departure which will derail the unrelenting war against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs,” he also said.
Asked whether it was possible that people are not convinced by Malacañang’s claim that the President is healthy, Panelo replied: “No. As I said, it can be seen in his punishing schedule. I think they are worried that he is sick.”