Malacañang not affected by drop in Duterte’s approval, trust ratings

Malacañang on Tuesday said it is not affected by the double-digit drop in President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval and trust ratings in the September 2018 survey of Pulse Asia.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque even noted that the President’s score remains the highest among top government officials.

“The President rules because it’s his Constitutional duty, he doesn’t rule for survey results. Maraming beses na po n’yang sinabi ‘yan,” Roque said in a press briefing.

“We take note of the survey results but we’re not affected by it, because ang Presidente naman will do his best to discharge his duties as President and Commander-in-Chief,” he added.

The survey, conducted from September 1 to 7, pegged Duterte’s approval rating at 75 percent, 13 percentage points lower from his previous 88 percent in June 2018.

The President’s trust rating also went down from 87 percent to 72 percent, a 15-point drop from his June 2018 rating.

READ: Duterte’s approval, trust ratings suffer double-digit drop – Pulse Asia

Among the issues hounding the administration during the conduct of the survey were the 6.4 percent inflation in August and the revocation of the amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the President’s fiercest critics.  /muf