A survey conducted by Pulse Asia from Feb. 20 to 26 revealed a predominantly negative perception of Philippine politics among Filipino registered voters, with the majority describing it as “magulo” or chaotic.

The results of the February 2025 “Pulso ng Bayan” Survey showed over a third of respondents (37.9 percent) describe Philippine politics as chaotic.

Pulse Asia said this view was consistent across various geographic areas and most socio-economic classes, with 31.7 percent of respondents in the National Capital Region (NCR), 33.4 percent in Balance Luzon (Luzon outside Metro Manila), 42.9 percent in the Visayas, and 45.1 percent in Mindanao describing Philippine politics as magulo.

The perception was also prevalent in socio-economic classes, with 38 percent of respondents in Class D and 42.3 percent in Class E sharing this view. 

In contrast, 29.8 percent of those in Class ABC described Philippine politics as chaotic.

In addition, Pulse Asia said almost a fifth of those surveyed (17.3 percent) associate Philippine politics with corruption or the exchange of money, often referred to as “pera-pera lang.”

Another significant portion of the population, about 10.9 percent, highlighted the divisive nature of local politics, with terms such as “awayan,” “watak-watak,” or “walang pagkakaisa.” 

Moreover, 5.8 percent cited electoral fraud, such as cheating or vote buying, as a defining feature of the country’s politics.

Meanwhile, only 4.2 percent of registered voters describe Philippine politics as “maayos” or orderly.

Pulse Asia said a range of other responses, each cited by at least 1 percent of those surveyed, were “generally negative in nature.”

These include views such as “madumi” (dirty) at 3.2 percent, “eksklusibo/dinastiya/elitista” (exclusive/dynastic/elitist) at 2.6 percent, and “paasa/pangakuan” (misleading/promising without intention to deliver) at 2.6 percent. 

Other negative descriptions included “makasarili/personal na interes ang nangingibabaw” (self-serving/personal interests take precedence) at 1.7 percent, “agawan sa pwesto” (scramble for positions) at 1.4 percent, “mahina ang pamahalaan” (weak government) at 1.4 percent, “kriminalidad nanumbalik” (resurgence of criminality) at 1.3 percent, “abusado/inaabuso ang kanilang posisyon/gahaman sa posisyon” (abusive/abusing their position/greedy for power) at 1.2 percent, “patayan” (killings) at 1.1 percent; and “mahirap ang kalagayan/pamumuhay” (difficult living conditions) at 1 percent.