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Opposition solons downplay Duterte’s record-high satisfaction rating


Two opposition congressmen on Friday downplayed the record-high public satisfaction rating of President Rodrigo Duterte, as they cautioned against using his popularity to push an “authoritarian agenda.”

In a statement, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said “popularity ratings are not an indication of real change or genuine progress.”

“The first year is usually associated with the honeymoon stage. And by nature, Filipinos are patient. Thus, it's expected for the President to get high satisfaction ratings early in his administration,” Baguilat pointed out. 

“Many would like to give this administration a chance and are willing to gloss over his unfulfilled promises and deadly rhetoric. And Filipinos have obviously embraced his drug war notwithstanding their dislike of the killings,” he said.

Baguilat however said that Duterte should use his political capital to push for the peace negotiations, a “genuine” agrarian reform agenda, and economic reforms.

“It's a powerful tool and I hope it will not be used to move an authoritarian agenda,” he said.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Tom Villarin echoed the sentiment of Baguilat, saying Duterte’s satisfaction ratings reflect his “appeal to people's emotions and insecurities” to “fit into the grand narrative of a creeping authoritarian rule.”

“It reflects the numbing effect of a culture of violence, hatred and death that this administration has promoted but have been touted by its propaganda machinery as the true, good, and beautiful,” he said.

Baguilat and Villarin are members of the so-called Magnificent 7, the independent minority bloc in the House of Representatives.

Public satisfaction over Duterte's performance grew during the second quarter of the year despite his controversial martial law declaration in Mindanao, according to the Social Weather Stations.

In its latest survey conducted from June 23 to 26 — or more than a month after the President's May 23 military rule declaration — the SWS found out that 78 percent of the 1,200 respondents were satisfied with his performance in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, 12 percent of the respondents were dissatisfied and 10 percent were undecided. This yielded a net satisfaction rating of +66 (% satisfied minus % dissatisfied), classified as “very good” and marking a new personal record high. An "excellent" rating should at least be +70.

This quarter's net satisfaction was just three points higher than SWS' March survey, where the President got a +63 rating (75% satisfied against 12% dissatisfied).

Results of the SWS survey, which involved face-to-face interviews and with sampling error margins of ±3 points for national percentages, was published first on BusinessWorld.

Duterte's net satisfaction in Mindanao dropped 12 points to +75, though still considered "excellent." In Visayas and Luzon, his net satisfaction went up to +70 and +58, respectively.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said Duterte’s ratings should not be interpreted as public support for martial law in Mindanao.

He said the survey reflects the public’s “optimistic view of the positive things” that the administration accomplished, citing the SSS pension hike, advancement in the peace talks, land distribution to farmers and delivery of social services.

"All of the positive public perception will dissipate if the administration continues its rightist turn, like the Martial law declaration in Mindanao, or, worse, its extension and expansion," Zarate said. —KBK, GMA News

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