Malacañang thanked the public for continuing to trust President Duterte despite criticisms hurled against him.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after President Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio topped Pulse Asia's vice-presidential and presidential bets, respectively, for the 2022 elections.
In his press briefing on Wednesday, July 14, Roque said the survey was proof of how much the public trusts the President.
"Nagpapasalamat po kami sa tiwala ng taumbayan na ibinigay kay Presidente Duterte at kay Mayor Sara Duterte (We thank the public for the trust they are giving to President Duterte and Mayor Carpio)," he said.
"'Yan po ay nagpapakita na kahit ano pa ang ipukol ng mga kritiko ni Presidente laban sa kanya, ay patuloy pa rin pong nagtitiwala at naniniwala ang sambayanang Filipino sa liderato po ni Presidente Duterte (This shows that no matter what critics hurl against the President, Filipinos continue to trust and have faith in leadership)," he added.
The recent Pulse Asia report came days after Carpio said she was now open to running for president in the 2022 polls. President Duterte has also said he was "seriously considering" running for vice president but later on said it was just a scare tactic.
On Monday, Roque said did not discount the possibility that two Dutertes running together for the two highest positions in government.
"Sa politika (In politics), anything is possible, nothing is impossible," he said.
However, last month, Mayor Carpio said the Duterte-Duterte tandem was not going to happen, citing her father's reasons for not allowing her to pursue the position.
She reiterated this early this week, saying she would opt for reelection if her father would seek the vice presidency.
On Monday, President Duterte said he was against Carpio's candidacy because he did not want her to experience the same things he did, particularly being attacked by critics which he thought cannot be handled by a woman.
President Duterte and Mayor Carpio likewise belonged to different parties. Duterte is from PDP-Laban while Carpio has her own Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party.