Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque insisted Friday, Sept. 24 that President Duterte's satisfaction ratings are "still very good by any standards".
This staterment was made after media outlets reported the drop in Duterte's satisfaction numbers based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.
"That is po hindi masyadong alarming and still very good by any standards," Roque said during the "Laging Handa" public briefing.
"Inaasahan naman po natin na walang presidente na hindi bumaba sa kanyang trust and habang palapit na po ang election...Pero itong bahagyang pagbaba po ay hindi naman po mabilis na pagbaba (We expect that no president will prevent his or her trust and satisfaction numbers from decreasing as the elections draw nearer...But this decrease is isn't a rapid decrease)," he said.
The SWS poll results revealed that the President’s satisfaction rating slid by a rather significant 17 percentage points, from a peak of +79 percent net rating in the November 2020 survey to a +62 percent net rating in the latest survey in June 2021.
In a subsequent statement Friday afternoon, Roque compared Duterte's satisfaction ratings to that of the latter's predecessors during the final months of their respective administrations. Apparently, Duterte still beats them all.
"We consider this high satisfaction rating unprecedented as comparable data from previous presidents indicate this is the highest net satisfaction rating of the beginning of a Chief Executive’s final year in office (President Corazon Aquino’s +24 in April 1991; President Fidel Ramos's +49 in June 1997; President Joseph Estrada, unfinished term; President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo -31 in June 2009; President Benigno Aquino +30 in June 2015)," he said.
Roque went on to say that those planning to run against the administration in the May 2022 national elections will look for ways to bring down Duterte's numbers.
"Syempre habang mag-eeleksyon na, yung mga kakandidato eh hahanap ng paraan para mapababa yung rating ng administrasyon dahil kung hindi, wala silang pag-asang manalo (As the elections draw nearer, those planning to become candidates will look for ways to bring down the administration’s ratings, otherwise they have no hopes of winning)," he said.
The SWS survey results were released less than a week before the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for next year's elections.
President Duterte is running for vice president next year under ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
"Rest assured that President Duterte will continue to exercise decisive and compassionate leadership until the remainder of his term to serve and protect the interest and welfare of all Filipinos," Roque said.