HOUSE Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe of Zamboanga City on Monday said the staggering decline in trust ratings of Vice President Sara Duterte – from 45% in July to just 29% in September – may be due to her continued refusal or failure to address concerns of alleged abuse and misuse in public funds.
Dalipe cited the latest survey commissioned by think tank Stratbase, Inc. conducted in September 2024 that showed Duterte’s trust rating plunging by 16 percentage points to 29% in September from 45% in July.
The percentage of respondents who said they had “much trust” in her fell by 10%, further emphasizing the extent of her declining popularity, he said.
According to Dalipe, Duterte’s consistent refusal to answer allegations of alleged irregularities in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and during her stint as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) during congressional hearings has led to a growing loss of public confidence in the elected official.
He noted that this decline is the largest among the country’s top government officials.
“Sa palagay natin, nagde-demand ng transparency at accountability ang taumbayan kay VP [Sara] sa gitna ng napakaraming tanong na hindi niya sinasagot o masagot. Repleksyon ito kung anong klaseng lider ka kasi dapat iniingatan natin ang pondo ng bayan,” Dalipe said.
Biggest dip in Balance Luzon
Dalipe referred to the latest survey which indicated that VP Duterte’s most significant drop in trust ratings was recorded in Balance Luzon, where Duterte’s trust rating fell by a staggering 25%, from 36% in June to just 11% in September.
The House leader said this was followed by a 21% decline in the National Capital Region (NCR), where her trust rating dropped to 13% from 34% .
Dalipe said a 15% decline was also observed in the Visayas, while her trust ratings in Mindanao rose slightly by 4%. The survey had a margin of error of ±3%.
Decline across urban and rural areas
He said Duterte’s trust rating took a hit across both urban and rural areas. In urban areas, her trust rating dropped by 21%, while rural areas showed an 11% decline.
“This shows that regardless of geography, the call for accountability resonates deeply with Filipinos everywhere,” Dalipe stated.
Upper to middle class decline
Dalipe said the decline in trust ratings was felt across all socio-economic classes, with the largest drop recorded among the upper to middle class (Classes ABC), where her trust rating fell by 26%. Class D registered a 15% drop, while Class E saw a 9% decrease.
“This erosion of trust among the upper and middle classes is especially alarming, as these groups typically have a significant impact on public opinion,” Dalipe observed.
More women lost trust
Dalipe said the survey also revealed a significant decline in trust among women, with Duterte’s rating dropping by 22%, from 50% in June to 28% in September. Trust among men fell by 10%.
“It’s clear that the Vice President is losing support from women, who may have once been a strong base for her,” Dalipe pointed out.
Decline across all ages
Dalipe said the decline in Duterte’s trust ratings was consistent across all age groups.
He said the biggest drop was seen among those aged 35-44, where her trust rating plummeted by 19%, followed by a 16% drop among those aged 45-54.
Even younger voters aged 18-24, often considered more resilient in their opinions, showed an 11% decline, according to him.
MOST DIP IN TRUST RATING AMONG COLLEGE GRADUATES
Dalipe said Duterte suffered the most significant decline among college graduates, with a 37% drop in trust.
He said even those with less formal education were not spared, as her trust rating fell by 20% among respondents with only elementary education.
Calls for transparency and accountability
Dalipe attributed this steep decline to Duterte’s refusal to address allegations of budget anomalies in the OVP and questionable procurement decisions at the DepEd.
“Palagay ko, hangga’t hindi satisfactorily naipapaliwanag ni VP Duterte ang mga tanong sa paggamit niya ng pondo ng bayan sa DepEd at sa OVP, magpapatuloy na mawawalan ng tiwala ang mga kababayan natin sa kanya,” Dalipe said.
“Ang kailangan ng mamamayan ay sagot, hindi palusot,” he added.
He urged Duterte to just step up and face the issues head-on.
“If she wants to restore the public’s faith in her leadership, she must be willing to explain these anomalies transparently and truthfully, under oath. This is the only way to regain the trust of the Filipino people,” he said.
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