Palace hits critics as Duterte keeps ‘very good’ rating

Presidential Spokesperson. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday mocked critics of the administration anew after President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating remained “very good” in the first quarter of 2019.

“The message of the survey is crystal clear: the more the critics and detractors malign PRRD, the higher the rating he gets,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“These political adversaries are being swallowed by their own hubris. Survey after survey they are being repudiated. They appear to be ensconced if not entangled in their own web of lies that they cannot unshackle themselves from it,” he added.

According to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey, 79 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte’s performance, while only 13 percent were dissatisfied. The other 8 percent, meanwhile, were undecided.

This gives Duterte a net satisfaction rating of +66, higher than his +60 net satisfaction rating in December 2018.

READ: Duterte net satisfaction rating up by 6 points in Q1 2019

Panelo also said the administration’s critics were “deaf to the voice of a great majority” and blind “to the sweeping changes in the political and social landscape.”

“Rather than continue with their hate campaign against the President, they should join the majority supporting Administration’s programs designed to serve and protect the nation and its citizenry and start contributing for the country’s progress,” he said.

The Palace official further noted that “no negative force” would distract Duterte from his fight against illegal drugs, criminality, corruption, and rebellion.

“Destiny has placed this President at the helm of this troubled land, so it is his destiny to remove it from its distress and lead it to a state of peace and progress,’ he said. /cbb