OF the mentioned officials, who do you trust the most, and who are the untrustworthy?
Pulse Asia released the results of their June 17 to 24 survey- which has more than 2,000 adult respondents nationwide.
The survey, released a few days before Bongbong Marcos’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA), shows that the president’s trust ratings have dropped to 52% from 57% in March.
“We put you there, we put you there, you need to change our way of life not make it harder for us because you’re not addressing our needs,” Atty. Salvador Panelo, Former Presidential Legal Counsel said.
Marcos Jr. also received the lowest trust rating from Mindanao residents, who gave him a ‘failing grade’ of 35%, down from 38%.
On the other hand, Visayas residents gave him a consistent 54% in two consecutive surveys.
Recently, there was a violent attack by the combined forces of the PNP-SAF and CIDG on the religious compounds of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) in Davao City and Sarangani Province.
This occurred on June 10, 2024, a week before Pulse Asia conducted its nationwide survey.
“All you think about is politics. Extending your terms. You are slandering. You are oppressing and persecuting your opponents. That’s why their ratings are low,” Panelo added.
The violent operation by armed authorities received massive condemnation and scrutiny among many Filipinos worldwide.
The KOJC documented the harassment of armed authorities against church workers during the said operation.
VP Sara Duterte maintains high trust ratings in consecutive Pulse Asia Surveys
In the same survey, Vice President Sara Duterte remains the most trusted government official at 71%.
She also received 71% in the March 2024 survey.
95% of Mindanao residents trust VP Sara in two consecutive surveys.
In contrast, Marcos Jr.’s cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, still lags in trust ratings with 31% and 35%.
Marcos Jr. and Romualdez have previously been criticized for lacking concrete programs for Filipinos.
Instead, they focused on distributing aid alongside holding concerts in various parts of the Philippines.
Foreign relations scholar gives failing grade to Marcos’ foreign policy
Meanwhile, the Marcos Jr. administration received a failing grade in foreign policy.
Tensions in the South China Sea intensified during his term due to his strong alliance with the Americans.
According to Foreign Relations Scholar Sass Rogando Sasot, Marcos Jr. dismantled the “friends to all, enemies to none” foreign policy of his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
A foreign policy that Marcos Jr. had promised to continue during his campaign.
“Well, foreign policy-wise, I give the Bongbong Administration a failing grade. Super failing grade,” Sass Rogando Sasot, Foreign Policy Scholar stated.
Due to the excessive alignment with the Americans, China and Russia—two nuclear superpowers—are now conducting joint naval drills in the South China Sea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously threatened to resume the production of nuclear weapons after the US used the Philippines and Denmark as storage for nuclear warheads.
According to Sasot, if the Philippines is obliterated by war, the public will have no one to blame but Marcos Jr.
“We can see the effects of his foreign policy right now. We are restless, aren’t we? He even said himself that the Philippines is now on the frontlines like in World War II. He said that in his speech in Australia,” Sasot added.
