MANILA — Rising inflation and persistent corruption issues are fueling public distrust toward President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., according to a nationwide Pulse Asia survey conducted from late February to early March 2026.
The survey revealed that Filipinos who expressed doubts about the President’s trustworthiness largely pointed to his perceived inability to rein in the rising cost of goods, fulfill campaign promises, address criminality, and curb corruption. Some respondents also cited alleged involvement in corrupt activities as a reason for their distrust.
Economic pressures remain a key concern, with inflation recorded at 2.4 percent in February and the risk of further increases looming due to global oil supply disruptions amid tensions in the Middle East.
Despite these concerns, Marcos continues to retain support from segments of the population, with trust anchored primarily on his perceived efforts to fight corruption, which respondents identified as the leading reason for backing him.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio posted relatively strong trust ratings, driven largely by public perceptions of her leadership style and responsiveness.
Survey respondents described her as capable of governing, pro-poor, and decisive, while also noting her quick response to calamities and strong convictions.
However, distrust toward Duterte-Carpio stems from allegations involving the misuse of confidential funds during her tenure at the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from Feb. 27 to March 2, 2026, using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide. It has a margin of error of ±2.8 percent at the 95 percent confidence level./PN
