By Jelly F. Musico
Barong, jeans, no socks: The “working” President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo shares a light moment prior to the Cabinet meeting at Malacañan Palace on Tuesday.(MNS photo)
MANILA (PNA) – Malacañang on Wednesday described the impressive trust rating of President Rodrigo Duterte as “very encouraging” and a positive sign the public appreciates the way the new government addresses the problems it inherited from the previous administration.
”It’s a positive sign and very encouraging to know that the people trust the judgment, decisions and actions of the President,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in a text message to the Malacañang media.
Based on the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey conducted from June 24-27 among 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, Pres. Duterte garnered a net trust rating of 79 percent, a big leap from his trust rating of 26 percent in May.
”The mandate is clear, the government cannot stop what it has started,” Andanar said, referring to the anti-illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said President has yet to give comment on the SWS survey but noted that “I’m sure he would appreciate that.”
”And he would also say, if I know him, that trabaho lang ‘yan, that’s part of the job’ and that he will continue to do our part,” Abella said.
The second quarter survey of SWS showed that only five percent of the respondents have little trust while 11 percent were undecided on the way Pres. Duterte is addressing the country’s problems.
In the May presidential elections, Pres. Duterte garnered more than 16 million votes, beating closest rival Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party by over six millions votes.
Aside from illegal drugs, Pres. Duterte vowed to combat the criminality and corruption particularly in the government.
Duterte took over as the country’s 16th President only last June 30, replacing former President Benigno Aquino III.