Vice President Sara Duterte continues to command the trust of the Filipino people, remaining the most trusted elected official in the country as 2024 draws to a close. This is according to the recently released 2024 PAHAYAG End of Year Survey, conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. from November 29 to December 3, 2024, with a base of 1,500 respondents.
Survey Results: Trust and Approval Ratings
The survey results highlight a shifting landscape in public perception of the country’s top government officials:
- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
- Approval: Dropped from 43% to 33%
- Trust: Declined from 32% to 23%
- Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio
- Approval: Slight dip from 40% to 37%
- Trust: Marginal decline from 33% to 31%
- Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero
- Approval: Decreased from 41% to 37%
- Trust: Reduced from 28% to 26%
- House Speaker Ferdinand Romualdez
- Approval: Dropped from 25% to 20%
- Trust: Plunged from 18% to 13%
- Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo
- Approval: Fell from 28% to 25%
- Trust: Dropped from 20% to 17%
Key Insights and Implications
The steep declines in both approval and trust ratings for President Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Romualdez are significant. In contrast, Vice President Duterte has managed to maintain relatively stable ratings, positioning her as the most trusted elected official despite facing political attacks and challenges.
Senate President Chiz Escudero and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo also saw declines, albeit less dramatic than those of the President and House Speaker. Overall, the trust ratings for all officials lag behind their approval ratings, underscoring the need for efforts to rebuild public confidence.
Ongoing Investigations and Political Attacks
The survey comes amid heightened scrutiny and political tension surrounding Vice President Duterte. The Quad-Agency Committee on Anti-Corruption (Quadcom) is investigating allegations of irregularities involving her office, which some groups have leveraged to file an impeachment complaint against her. Critics claim that these moves are politically motivated, aimed at undermining her influence as a leading political figure.
Despite these controversies, Duterte’s consistent performance in trust ratings suggests that the public remains largely supportive of her leadership. Her ability to maintain stability in approval and trust amidst the onslaught of allegations may further solidify her standing as a key player in the country’s political landscape.
Public Reactions and Expert Analysis
Political analysts have attributed the significant declines in President Marcos Jr.’s and House Speaker Romualdez’s ratings to public dissatisfaction over unresolved economic challenges and governance issues. Meanwhile, Vice President Duterte’s resilience is seen as a testament to her connection with her voter base and her ability to navigate political turbulence.
“The numbers reflect a growing demand for accountability and tangible results,” said political analyst Dr. Maria Lopez. “While approval ratings indicate general support, trust is a deeper measure of credibility, and it’s clear that regaining public trust will be crucial for all officials moving forward.”
What’s Next?
As the nation looks ahead to 2025, the pressure is mounting on government leaders to address the concerns of the public and improve their performance. For Vice President Duterte, maintaining her lead in trust ratings amid adversity may strengthen her position as a potential unifying figure in a divided political arena.
The PAHAYAG survey serves as a stark reminder of the volatility of public sentiment and the ongoing challenges that lie ahead for the country’s top officials.