Filipinos’ trust in Duterte falls to lowest level, finds survey

World Saturday 08/September/2018 15:26 PM
By: Times News Service
Filipinos’ trust in Duterte falls to lowest level, finds survey

Manila: Public trust in Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte dropped to the lowest of his presidency, a survey showed on Saturday, although he still maintained a rating of "very good".
Trust is used by independent pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) to gauge public opinion with a president’s personality.
It fell 8 points in the second quarter to +57 from +65 in an earlier poll.
It was the popular leader's lowest score in nine surveys taken since he took office in June 2016.
To reach each rating, the surveys subtract the percentage who respond with "low trust” in Duterte from those who said they had "much trust" in him.
SWS surveyed 1,200 people at the end of June.
Ramon Casiple, head of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms in Manila, said it was normal for a president's rating to fall at the two-year stage of his term.
The survey did not ask respondents to explain their rating.
Duterte had enjoyed high trust ratings, peaking at +79 shortly after taking office.
Duterte did not mention the survey results on Saturday but a spokesman welcomed the support.
"We are now working double time to aid families affected by high prices while keeping the economy stable," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
Annual inflation reached its highest in nearly a decade in August, exceeding expectations and increasing the changes of a fourth interest rate rise this year.