The 14 percentage-point collapse in President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s public satisfaction rating—a stunning plunge in a single quarter—has sent shockwaves through the Philippine political establishment. The figures reveal that the initial 35 per cent approval recorded in August 2025 by public opinion firm WR Numero has plummeted to just 21 per cent by November.
What sparked this seismic political crisis? According to political analyst Professor Julio Teehankee, during a recent appearance on DZMM, the sharp decline is directly attributable to a combination of factors: the sudden departure of key anti-corruption officials from the administration’s most high-profile investigation, and relentless, targeted attacks from political forces allied with former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Professor Teehankee notes that this crisis comes just months after Marcos Jr. experienced a public ‘bump’ in ratings following his aggressive anti-corruption stance, marked by his now-famous “mahiya naman kayo” (shame on you) speech.
The President had initially made a series of right moves, effectively becoming a whistleblower in his own administration,exposing top contractors implicated in the country’s massive flood control corruption scandal. He subsequently launched an anti-corruption portal and made two high-calibre appointments to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI),the body tasked with investigating the anomalies.
The appointments of Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong as ICI special advisor and former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson as ICI Commissioner were widely regarded as ‘symbolic’ moves that ‘brought gravitas’ to the investigation.
The Backlash: Why Marcos Jr.’s Anti-Corruption Drive Imploded
However, this momentum was catastrophically undermined by the swift resignations of both Magalong and Singson,followed by the removal of Philippine National Police chief Nicanor Torre III. For the public, these departures signalled a failure of political will and a possible obstruction of justice, immediately impacting the President’s image and the credibility of the ICI investigation.
The analyst captures the public’s disappointment by highlighting the unfortunate turnover of personnel, where those the public trusted were the first to leave, while non-performing, unpopular officials remained entrenched. Speaking to DZMM, Professor Teehankee stated: “Anong nangyari afterward? Unti-unting nag-resign. Natanggal ‘yung mga inaasahang tao na magkakarga sa imahe nang kanyang administrasyon, isa na rin diyan si General Torre. Tapos, the one carrying the heavy burden for this administration is Secretary Vince Dizon.”
He continued by pointing out the irony and the resulting political baggage: “‘Yung mga dapat na hindi nag re-resign, na dapat manatili dahil positive ang reception ng taong-bayan sa kanila, sila ‘yung nagbibitiw ng posisyon. ‘Yun namang non-performing at kinaiinisan nang publiko ay kapit pa rin sa kanilang posisyon…Pabigat sila sa Pangulo.” This sentiment—that the wrong people are leaving and the wrong people are staying—has become a heavy weight around the President’s neck.
The Cost of Inaction: Public Impatience and The Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. Legacy
Beyond the personnel shuffles, the administration has been bruised by the ongoing skirmishes with forces aligned with former president Duterte. While Professor Teehankee notes that the Duterte allies have so far failed to achieve their ultimate goal of ousting the President, the constant, draining attacks have undoubtedly taken a heavy toll on the administration’s focus and public standing.
The primary driver of the public’s impatience, however, remains the lack of significant judicial closure in the flood control scandal. The public has seemingly grown tired of the investigation’s slow pace because, after months of high-profile promises, no ‘big fish’—no top government official or senator—has been jailed in connection with the scandal.
Professor Teehankee describes this inaction as a form of damaging political theatre, suggesting the public now views the anti-corruption drive with deep suspicion: “After more than three months, it’s more of the same. Kumbaga, pwede rin sa isipan nang karamihan, ‘Uy, mukhang dini-dribble lamang tayo ng administrasyon upang hintayin na humupa ‘yung galit natin. O ‘yung tinatawag nang Gen Z na performative. Mukhang may ginagawa pero wala talaga. Parang pakitang-tao lamang.”
For the President, the path back to regaining public trust is clear, but difficult: he must deliver institutional, not merely symbolic, reforms. Teehankee argues that the only way to genuinely turn things around would be to implement deep structural changes, including the removal of political dynasties from government.
According to the analyst, “Ito ay isang first step para makapag-iwan siya nang legacy at para ipakita sa taong-bayan na sinsero siya sa kanyang tungkulin bilang Presidente,” suggesting that only a sincere move to dismantle the patronage system that allows corruption to thrive will convince a disillusioned public of his commitment.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.