Solon lauds ex-President Duterte as 'most popular post EDSA president'


“Most popular president post-EDSA.”

This is what Surigao Del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers had to say after a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that the Duterte administration ended its six-year run with an “excellent” satisfaction rating.

The results of the SWS survey (Photo from sws.org.ph)

In a survey conducted from June 26 to June 29, the SWS found that 88 percent of the adult Filipinos who responded were satisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency. Meanwhile, five percent were undecided while seven percent were dissatisfied. The study polled 1,500 adult respondents throughout the country.

Overall, the poll determined that the Duterte administration garnered a net satisfaction rating of +81 which the SWS classifies as “excellent.”

“The results only prove that former President Duterte’s leadership style which is like no other compared to the past presidents of our country, is favored by the people and was well received by the business community. As a matter of fact, the economy is expected to grow by 6.5% this year. Likewise, the unemployment rate has gone down significantly and the crime rate dropped to unprecedented levels pre-Covid period. He ended his term as the ‘most popular’ president post-EDSA”, Barbers said on Sunday, Sept. 25.

“The policy achievements of the Duterte administration, especially in the fight against criminality and illegal drugs had a positive impact to society. In spite of the criticisms in the drug war the people reacted positively as manifested by the survey results. Most people say they are not anymore afraid to walk in the streets and get lynched by drug addicts or fall prey to thieves”, the Chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs said.

Barbers then reckoned that the current Marcos administration would benefit from the support garnered by the past Duterte administration.

“These gains of the past admin will certainly be the benchmark of the BBM administration as it vows to improve and do even better. For certain, this administration will even have more if not the same amount of support from the people as the BBM-Sara tandem gained not just majority votes in the polls, but overwhelming plurality. Coupled with their wealth in political experience this country will surely have nowhere else to go but up”, the solon concluded.