Filipinos believe Duterte should have stayed in Cabinet — survey
Metro Manila, Philippines — Majority of adult Filipinos still believe in the Marcos-Duterte tandem and that the vice president should have remained in the Cabinet, according to a survey of a non-partisan public opinion research group.
In a poll released on Thursday, Oct. 3, WR Numero Research found that only 38.1% of Filipinos believed that Duterte’s resignation from the Cabinet was called for amid the political rift.
Only Metro Manila respondents supported Duterte’s move at 56.4%. Most respondents from the rest of Luzon (60.6%), the Visayas (65%) and Mindanao (72.7%) believed Duterte should have stayed in the Cabinet post.
“The trend so far is that the Uniteam breakup and this growing feud between the Marcos-Duterte is very unpopular among Filipinos,” WR Numero president and CEO Cleve Arguelles said, referring to the coalition branding during the 2022 general elections
“Not only is the breakup unpopular but we also see that may disagreements na rin ang taumbayan [the public has disagreements] in the specific directions that they have taken,” said Arguelles, a political scientist.
Respondents were asked to choose the statement that they agree with:
1) “Dapat na nanatili pa din si Vice President Sara Duterte sa gabinete ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos kahit pa mayroon silang hindi pagkakasundo.” [Vice President Sara Duterte should have stayed in the Cabinet despite differences with President Bongbong Marcos]
2) “Dapat lang na nagbitiw na si Vice President Sara Duterte sa gabinete ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos dahil sa mayroon silang hindi pagkakasundo.” [Vice President Sara Duterte is right in quitting the Cabinet amid differences with President Bongbong Marcos]
Duterte resigned as Department of Education chief on June 19, which took effect a month later.
She has severed official ties with the administration in refusing to rejoin the Cabinet.
Duterte an opposition member?
On the other hand, WR Numero said Filipinos are split if Duterte should be branded as an opposition.
More than half or 53% of respondents did not support the Marcos administration breaking political ties with Duterte.
The opinion research firm looked at the responses by partisanship, and it found those who self-identify as supporters of the opposition welcome such a possibility.
Respondents were asked to choose the statement that they agree with:
1) “Tutol ako na i-trato ng administrasyong Marcos na hindi na alyado at isang oposisyon na si Vice President Sara Duterte.” [I object to the Marcos administration treating Vice President Sara Duterte as no longer an ally as she is of the opposition.]
2) “Suportado ako na i-trato ng administrasyong Marcos na hindi na alyado at isang oposisyon na si Vice President Sara Duterte.” [I support the Marcos administration treating Vice President Sara Duterte as longer an ally but of the opposition.]
Duterte has been vocal in attacking the administration since she severed ties. Marcos also confirmed that she has not spoken with the vice president after her resignation.
WR Numero interviewed 1,729 adult Filipinos from Sept. 5 to 23 to produce the report. The survey had a 95% confidence level and a ±2% margin of error.
