Metro Manila, Philippines – Public trust in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte slipped in September following weeks of antigovernment protests over corruption allegations involving public works projects, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.
The September 2025 “Ulat ng Bayan” nationwide poll, conducted from Sept. 27 to 30, found that only 34 percent of Filipinos said they trusted Marcos, down five points from 39 percent in June. Meanwhile, his distrust rating rose to 45 percent from 41 percent.Distrust toward Marcos increased sharply in the Visayas (up 19 points, from 39 percent to 58 percent) and in Mindanao (up 18 points, from 69 percent to 87 percent). Among Class E respondents, distrust jumped to 65 percent from 51 percent.The decline in trust followed the Sept. 21 “Trillion Peso March” and other demonstrations that drew thousands to protest alleged collusion among lawmakers, public works officials and contractors in the diversion of billions of pesos in flood control funds. Vice President Duterte retained the trust of a small majority of Filipinos at 56 percent, but this figure represented a nine-point drop in Metro Manila (from 50 percent to 41 percent) and smaller declines in other areas. Her distrust rating slipped to 21 percent from 27 percent nationwide, but indecision toward her trustworthiness increased to 23 percent from 19 percent.Regional data showed Duterte’s trust rating declined in Metro Manila and Luzon outside the capital, while remaining nearly universal in Mindanao (96 percent). Among socioeconomic classes, her trust rating stayed highest among Class E (76 percent) but dropped by 10 points among Class D respondents (from 66 percent to 56 percent).Duterte continues to outperform Marcos in overall public trust, maintaining a 22-point advantage.
