MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remained the country’s highest-rated official, according to an independent, non-commissioned survey released over the weekend.
In the national survey conducted by RPMD Foundation Inc., Vice President Sara Duterte posted declining approval numbers amid continuing political controversies and impeachment-related issues.
The “Boses ng Bayan” survey showed Marcos posting 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.
The survey, conducted from April 1 to 8, 2026, involved 5,000 randomly selected respondents nationwide across all socioeconomic classes. 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 the administration, particularly in Luzon, where he recorded his strongest support at 58 percent in the Balance of Luzon area.
The poll also showed improving support for Marcos in Mindanao, traditionally regarded as a Duterte stronghold, while Visayas remained politically divided but slightly leaning toward the President.
Vice President Duterte, meanwhile, registered a 54 percent IOG score, anchored on 57 percent trust and 51 percent approval ratings.
Although Duterte remained the highest-rated official in terms of trust, RPMD noted that her approval rating was the weakest among the country’s senior political leaders included in the survey.
Despite the decline, Duterte continued to maintain 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.
