MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – President Rodrigo Duterte still enjoys “excellent” trust from the public but with a decline in his numbers nationwide from the time he won as president in June.

With just 6 months in office, Duterte’s net trust ratings dipped by 4 percentage points – from 76% in September down to 72% in December. In June, Duterte had an “excellent” rating of 79% days before his inauguration.

First published in BusinessWorld on Thursday, December 22, the SWS survey said 81% of respondents had “much trust” in Duterte while 9% had “little trust” in him, generating a net score of 72%. 

The SWS attributed the 4-point dip to the drop of scores in Metro Manila, Mindanao, and the Visayas, which leveled the “steady score” in the remainder of Luzon.

In Metro Manila, trust in the President dropped by 11 points – from an “excellent” score of 76% in September down to a “very good” rating of 65% in December.

It also fell by 4 points in the Visayas – from an “excellent” 73% down to a “very good” 69%.

In Mindanao, Duterte’s home region, his trust ratings stayed “excellent” but dropped 7 points – from 92% in September to 85%.

His scores remain unchanged in Balance Luzon – 69%.

The poll, conducted from December 3 to 6, among 1,500 respondents nationwide, had a +/-3 margin of error for the whole country and +/-4 for Balance Luzon, and +/-6 points for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

SWS classifies net trust ratings of at least +70 as “excellent”; +50 to +69 as “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”; +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad”; -50 to -69, “very bad” as well as -70 and below as “execrable.”

Socioeconomic classes

Duterte’s net trust rating stayed “excellent” in urban areas, with a minimal decline of 2 points – from 75% in September to 73%. In rural areas, he fell 6 points from 77% to 71%.

Among socioeconomic classes, the President’s score was excellent in classes D and E.

His score dropped 5 points in Class D – from 78% in September to 73% in December – but increased by 5 points in Class E – a “very good” 67% in September to an “excellent” 72% now.

Fewer Class ABC respondents said they trust Duterte now than in September, with a decline of 13 percentage points – from an excellent 72% down to a “very good” 59%.

Malacañang, meanwhile, said that the survey results is a “testament that our people continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the President’s agenda of getting rid the society of illegal drugs, crime, and corruption.”

“This gives him and members of his team to pursue with greater resolve the administration’s goal of a Philippines free from the drug scourge, crime incidents, and malfeasance in public service,” the Palace said in a statement to media.

Earlier, the SWS released survey results showing most of its respondents – 78% –  were worried they could be the next victims of extrajudicial killings (45% “very worried,” 33% “somewhat worried”).

Of the respondents, 10% were “not too worried” while 12% were “not worried at all.” – Rappler.com