Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is not losing sleep over the latest survey figures that show his approval ratings slipping, stressing that the administration is prepared to absorb political fallout stemming from decisions it considers necessary.
Palace press officer Claire Castro told reporters on Tuesday that the President understands that his directive to scrutinize alleged irregularities in flood control projects would inevitably draw resistance, particularly from those who may be implicated. She said any decline in public support linked to the probe would not deter him from pursuing the investigation.
“The President will not be bothered by the drop in ratings because what he did was the right decision even if it may not be a popular decision, as many people and politicians will be affected,” Castro said.
Her remarks came as Pulse Asia released the results of its December survey, conducted from Dec. 12 to Dec. 15, which tracked public sentiment toward the country’s top officials. While the firm noted that the approval and trust levels of the President and Vice President Sara Duterte were generally stable compared with September, the data showed shifts in the balance between approval and disapproval for the President.
According to the survey, Marcos registered a 34 percent approval rating against a higher 48 percent disapproval rating in December. This marked a change from September, when 33 percent approved of his performance while 44 percent expressed disapproval.
Regional results showed uneven support. The President obtained his only majority approval rating in Luzon outside Metro Manila, where 51 percent expressed approval. Disapproval, however, outweighed approval in Metro Manila at 53 percent, in the Visayas at 62 percent, and most sharply in Mindanao at 85 percent.
Trust indicators followed a similar pattern. Marcos earned a trust rating of 32 percent, with 47 percent saying they distrusted him. In September, trust stood at 34 percent and distrust at 45 percent. Distrust was most pronounced in Mindanao at 86 percent, followed by the Visayas at 60 percent and Metro Manila at 50 percent.
In contrast, Duterte continued to post majority support in the same survey period. She recorded a 56 percent approval rating and a 24 percent disapproval rating, alongside a 54 percent trust score and 24 percent distrust. Compared with September, her approval rose by one percentage point, while her trust rating dipped by two points.
Area-based figures showed Duterte drawing her strongest backing from Mindanao at 95 percent approval, followed by the Visayas at 68 percent and Metro Manila at 44 percent.
