Robredo ratings dip, Duterte trust still highest — Pulse Asia

Vice President Leni Robredo trust and approval ratings dipped last quarter, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte continues to enjoy the highest trust rating among the country’s top officials.

The survey was conducted from December 6 to 11, 2016, among 1,200 respondents.  It has a ± 3 percent error margin at the 95% confidence level. The margin of error for geographical areas is ± 6 percent.

Among the events that happened before and during the survey was Robredo’s resignation from the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the ongoing investigation on the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr. and the Senate committee recommendation to file cases against self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Edgar Matobato.

Duterte received an approval rating of 83 percent, followed by Robredo with 62 percent and Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III with 55 percent.

Completing the top five positions are Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno at 47 percent and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez with 43 percent.

All five officials received a slight dip in their approval ratings.

The same pattern was observed in their trust ratings, with Duterte leading at 83 percent, Robredo following at 58 percent and Pimentel placing third at 50 percent. Sereno received a trust rating of 41 percent and Alvarez 38 percent.

Duterte and Robredo received majority approval ratings in all socioeconomic classes and geographic areas. Both received their highest approval in Mindanao.

Slipping approval

However, the Vice President’s trust rating fell by 7 percentage points nationwide and by 12 percentage points in Luzon. She also received lower trust and approval ratings in Class ABC and E.

Duterte’s trust and approval ratings also fell by 13 percentage points for Class ABC.

“Between September and December 2016, the only significant movement in these officials’ national performance ratings is the increase in the overall disapproval score of Vice-President Robredo (+7 percentage points),” Pulse Asia said.

Pimentel losing trust among ABC

While Pimentel’s trust and approval ratings only went down by 5 to 6 percentage points nationwide, he received the biggest blow from Class ABC. From an approval rating of 74 percent in September, it fell to 49 percent last month.

His trust ratings also suffered. From 62 percent for Class ABC in September, it went down to 39 percent in December.

Alvarez only received majority approval rating from Mindanao while Sereno received half of Metro Manila respondents’ approval.

Institutions

The Senate, the Supreme Court and the House of Representatives received majority approval ratings and trust scores last quarter.

“There are hardly any significant changes in these government institutions’ performance and trust ratings between September and December 2016,” Pulse Asia said.