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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Monday, October 16, 2017
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MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said he does not care about his ratings, and his priority is fulfilling his campaign promises.
“It does not really matter to me. Kasi iyong lahat na ginagawa ko, those were exactly the words that I used during the campaign,” he said. “I have to honor what I promised because that is my covenant with the people.”
His comments came in light of the latest Social Weather Stations survey showing a significant decrease in his satisfaction and trust ratings.
Duterte’s satisfaction rating dropped to 48 percent from 66 percent in June while his trust rating fell to 61 percent from 75 percent, the survey conducted between Sept. 23 and 27 showed.
But a survey by Pulse Asia conducted at around the same time showed the President continues to enjoy a high public approval rating.
Eighty percent of 1,200 Filipinos surveyed by Pulse Asia said they trust and approve of Duterte, slightly down from 81 percent and 82 percent, respectively, in its June survey.
The surveys came after a demonstration by thousands of Filipinos and unprecedented public scrutiny on the government’s war on drugs, triggered by the Aug. 16 killing by the police of a teenager.
Duterte said it is not his fault if the people can no longer stomach his style of leadership.
“Ngayon, dumating ang panahon na hindi ninyo kayang lunukin iyong sinabi ko, problema ninyo iyan, hindi ko problema iyan,” he said. “The human rights of the criminals end where the survival of my country begins.”
Duterte said he’s not concerned about his declining ratings.
“Iyong ratings, maski mag-abot ako ng zero. Wala iyon … May trabaho ako, zero, zero, plus. Ganoon pa rin, magtrabaho ako kasi pinangako ko,” he said. “Hindi ako iyong sabihin mo na ’pag maging unpopular ako, wala iyan. Kalokohan iyan, hindi ka lalaki niyan!”
The President added: “Kung ako’y makulong at mamatay dahil diyan, pasensiya! At ako nama’y lumigaya at nagawa ko lahat ng pinangako ko sa Pilipinas. That is my personal satisfaction.”
According to academic Edmund Tayao, the Pulse Asia poll showed the public still recognized the importance of the war on drugs, and Duterte would stick to his policy agenda.
“The President’s tone does not change, regardless of the numbers,” Tayao said. “Whether these surveys will result in major changes to his policy, I think not.”
Ranjit Rye of the University of the Philippines said the latest poll showed that, despite recent setbacks and adverse headlines, Duterte had not lost his appeal.
“Despite all the political noise, all the opposition against the president, he continues to be wildly popular and people approve of his leadership,” Rye said.
Earlier Malacañang played down the ratings drop, saying it was expected because the “honeymoon period” for the President was over.
“Despite this ay nasa ‘good’ pa rin ang kanyang satisfaction at iyong public trust ay nasa ‘very good,’” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar had said.
Andanar had assured that the Duterte administration will use the survey results as a “barometer” for its next steps.
“Ito po ay magsisilbing gabay pa rin sa administrasyon na talagang tumutok sa trabaho, sa reporma at pagbabago para maibsan ang kahirapan ng ating mga kababayan,” he had said. (With Reuters/PN)
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