By Pexcel John Bacon
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s trust rating rose by two percentage points to 36% in September, while Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio kept a substantial lead at 56% despite her impeachment trial, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
The Sept. 21-27 survey, commissioned by Stratbase Group, found that 40% of Filipinos had little trust in Mr. Marcos, down from 45% in June, while 22% were undecided.
The President’s trust rating remained well below the 64% recorded in July 2024, following a general decline through much of 2025.
Mindanao posted the biggest improvement in trust in Mr. Marcos, with 35% of respondents expressing much trust in him, up from 17% in June. However, 44% of respondents in the region still said they had little trust in the President.
In Metro Manila, 31% expressed much trust in Mr. Marcos, compared with 43% who had little trust and 25% who were undecided.
The rest of Luzon recorded the President’s highest trust rating among the four major geographic areas at 40%, while 35% expressed little trust.
In the Visayas, 33% said they had much trust in Mr. Marcos, compared with 44% who had little trust.
Meanwhile, Ms. Duterte’s trust rating slipped by one percentage point to 56% from June. The survey found that 26% of respondents had little trust in the Vice-President, while 17% were undecided.
Ms. Duterte remained strongest in Mindanao, where 87% expressed much trust in her and only 4% said they had little trust.
In the Visayas, 60% expressed much trust in the Vice-President, compared with 24% who had little trust.
Her trust rating in Metro Manila stood at 46%, while 33% of respondents expressed little trust.
For the rest of Luzon, the share of respondents expressing much trust in Ms. Duterte fell to 41% from 45% in June, while 35% said they had little trust.
Stratbase President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit said both leaders would continue to face public scrutiny over issues involving their administrations and families.
“Filipinos’ eyes are on President Marcos and how he deals with the issues that directly affect their lives: from the rising cost of living, the aftermath of high-profile arrests from the flood control scandal and Duterte’s ongoing impeachment trial,” he said in a statement.
The survey, which had an error margin of ±3 points for national percentages, covered 1,500 respondents nationwide.