Approval, trust ratings of Duterte, Robredo down

MANILA, Philippines — The approval and trust ratings of President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo have dropped in the recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 16 to 22 with the results released on Monday, showed the number of people who approve of the President’s performance dropping from 85 percent in June to 78 percent last month.

Those who were undecided increased from 11 percent to 14 percent, while those who disapprove of Duterte’s performance increased from three percent to eight percent.

The number of people who trust Duterte also decreased from 85 percent to 74 percent, while those who were undecided on the matter increased from 11 percent to 18 percent.

Those who distrust the President increased from four percent to nine percent.

Unfazed

Malacañang is unfazed by Duterte’s lower trust and approval ratings, saying it’s normal for poll numbers to change. ?Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President’s survey numbers are still high. ?

“It’s still more than 70 percent,” Panelo said. “The rating is still high... Surveys fluctuate depending on when they get them. If it is taken at a time when there are controversies hounding, it may affect the survey results. The fact remains that 78 percent plus still remains high.” ?Panelo expressed belief the ninja cops controversy may have affected Duterte’s numbers.

The survey was taken days before the “ninja cops” controversy erupted. 

Meanwhile, the number of people who approve of the performance of the Vice President decreased from 55 percent in June to 50 percent in September.

Those who were undecided on her performance increased from 21 percent to 28 percent, while her disapproval rating decreased from 24 percent to 22 percent.

Robredo’s trust rating also dropped from 52 percent to 46 percent, while those who were undecided increased from 22 percent to 29 percent.

The number of people who distrust Robredo fell by a point from 26 percent to 25 percent.

Challenge

The camp of the Vice President is seeing as a challenge the lower approval and trust ratings that she obtained in the latest Pulse Asia survey. 

Robredo’s spokesman Barry Gutierrez said they are taking the latest survey results as a challenge to redouble their efforts, both in continuing to serve the public and keeping the Filipino people better informed of the work that the Vice President is doing. 

“We are likewise grateful that the VP continues to enjoy significant support from our fellow Filipinos,” Gutierrez said. 

“This support will further strengthen her commitment to stay true to her Constitutional mandate, uphold our nation’s interests and work to uplift the lives of our people, especially the poor and marginalized,” he added. 

Other officials

The approval and trust ratings of Senate President Vicente Sotto III also dropped based on the recent survey.

The number of people who approve of Sotto’s performance dropped from 77 percent in June to 72 percent in September, while those who were undecided increased from 16 percent to 21 percent. Those who disapproved of his performance stayed at seven percent.

Sotto’s trust rating also dropped from 73 percent to 66 percent, while those who were undecided increased from 21 percent to 27 percent. Those who distrust him stayed at seven percent.

Unlike the other officials, the approval and trust ratings of Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin hardly changed in the latest survey.

His approval rating increased by a point from 41 percent to 42 percent, while those who disapproved of his performance fell from 16 percent to 15 percent.

His trust rating, however, fell from 35 percent to 34 percent, while those who distrust him also fell from 15 percent to 14 percent.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who assumed the post in July, obtained an approval rating of 64 percent, while those who disapproved of him was at six percent.

Meanwhile, Cayetano’s trust rating was at 62 percent in September, while the percentage of those who distrust him was at nine percent.

The survey had 1,200 respondents and an error margin of +/- 2.8 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

Grateful

House leaders thanked the public for Cayetano’s high approval ratings. 

“This is the first time that Speaker Cayetano has been rated by the Filipino people through the Pulse Asia’s Ulat sa Bayan survey, and we are collectively proud of our leader’s exemplary trust and approval rating,” Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said. 

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero said they have no reason to doubt that under Cayetano’s leadership, the House will continue to win the hearts of Filipinos.  

Fellow Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu said the Pulse Asia survey is a “recognition of Speaker Cayetano’s hard work for the people.”  

Rep. Mike Defensor, head of the House committee on public accounts, commended Cayetano for a job well done. – With Alexis Romero, Delon Poralla