Duterte on record-high rating: Just doing my job

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over the 39th Cabinet meeting at the Malacañan Palace on July 1, 2019. (Photo by KARL NORMAN ALONZO / Presidential Photographers Division)

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday downplayed his new record-high net satisfaction rating, saying he was just doing his job.

The President received a net satisfaction rating of +68 in a survey conducted from June 22 to 26 by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). This rating surpassed his previous personal record of +66 in March 2019 and June 2017.

READ: Duterte’s rating reaches new record-high in Q2 2019 – SWS

Asked to comment, the President said: “Alam mo naman ako, I do not go for this kind of things. Basta ako, trabaho lang.”

[As you know, I do not go for this kind of things. For me, it’s all about work.]

“As always, sinabi ko, if you are satisfied with my work, then I’m happy. If you are not satisfied, then I’ll work more. Dagdagan ko ’yung pawis ko,” he added.

The SWS reported that Duterte’s net satisfaction rating remained “very good” in Balance Luzon (+65), Visayas (+66), and Metro Manila (+59), while it stayed “excellent” in Mindanao (+81).

The President’s net satisfaction rating also remained “very good” in both urban and rural areas.

The survey was conducted in the wake of the Recto Bank incident, during which he was harshly criticized for downplaying as a “little maritime accident” the ramming and sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea.

He also drew flak for supposedly kowtowing to China’s expansive claim in the West Philippine Sea when he gave Chinese fishermen access to the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

READ: Palace: Recto Bank incident will ‘definitely’ not affect Duterte’s popularity

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)