A survey conducted by Pulse Asia revealed the reasons behind public trust and distrust toward President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Based on the February–March 2026 survey, the primary reason Filipinos trust Marcos is his perceived efforts in fighting corruption.
However, the most common reason cited for distrust in the president is his alleged failure to control inflation.
Inflation in the country rose to 2.4% in February, prompting economists to warn of possible price increases in the coming months due to the ongoing conflict involving the US-Israel, and Iran.
Other reasons cited for distrust in Marcos include failure to curb corruption, fulfill promises, effectively perform his duties, control the prices of basic goods, and address criminality.
Meanwhile, public opinion on Vice President Duterte remains divided in terms of trust.
Among the reasons for trusting her are her leadership capability and helpfulness.
On the other hand, some respondents expressed distrust due to her alleged failure to address issues surrounding the misuse of confidential funds allocated to her office and to the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as its head.
Additional reasons for distrust include alleged threats against the administration, use of inappropriate language, lack of accomplishments, and her frequent trips abroad.
