(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remained the country’s highest-rated national official, according to an independent, non-commissioned survey released over the weekend.
The survey by RPMD Foundation Inc. also showed a drop in Vice President Sara Duterte’s approval ratings amid continuing political controversies and impeachment-related issues.
Marcos got the highest Index of Governance (IOG) score among top government officials at 57 percent, supported by 56 percent trust and 58 percent approval ratings.
RPMD said the IOG was derived by combining trust and approval ratings and dividing the total equally to determine an official’s overall governance standing.
RPMD polled 5,000 respondents for the survey, conducted from April 1 to 8.
It carried a margin of error of ±1 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
RPMD analysts said Marcos’ numbers reflected sustained public confidence in his administration, particularly in Luzon, where he recorded his strongest support at 58 percent in the Balance of Luzon area.
Support for Marcos in Mindanao, traditionally regarded as a Duterte stronghold, was also up.
Visayas remained politically divided, but slightly leaning toward the president.
Duterte registered a 54 percent IOG score, anchored on 57 percent trust and 51 percent approval ratings.
Although she remained the highest-rated official in terms of trust, Duterte’s approval rating was the weakest among the country’s senior political leaders included in the survey, RPMD said.
Despite the decline, Duterte maintained strong support in Mindanao, where she registered around 60 percent backing.
The survey also indicated shifting preferences across socioeconomic groups. Respondents from Class E leaned slightly toward Duterte, while support among Class D respondents — considered the country’s largest voting bloc — was nearly evenly split between the two leaders.
Respondents from the ABC socioeconomic classes leaned more strongly toward Marcos.
“This is the political mood of Filipinos now,” said Paul Martinez, RPMD executive director and global affairs analyst. “The electorate is becoming more politically divided, but also more engaged and more discerning. Regional and class-based preferences are becoming more pronounced, reflecting a more competitive and evolving political environment.”
Martinez added that Duterte’s numbers reflected the impact of mounting political pressure and scrutiny surrounding her office.
“The trust base of Vice President Duterte remains significant, particularly in Mindanao, but the approval numbers clearly indicate political strain,” he said. “A 51 percent approval rating for a national figure is not politically comfortable and suggests growing concern over the controversies attached to her office.”
