More Filipinos satisfied with Duterte amid ‘vulgar’ remarks – SWS

By CNN Philippines Staff, Sep 29, 2018

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — More Filipinos are satisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s performance amid his controversial remarks, a private pollster reported Saturday.

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey for the third quarter of the year asked its respondents if they found some of Duterte’s previous statements “bastos” or vulgar.

In June, Duterte called God “stupid” and drew the ire of the Catholic church.

Asked if the “stupid God” comment was vulgar, 83 percent of Filipino adults said it was, while 14 percent said it was not. Three percent of the respondents did not know.

Duterte also said in August that there were many rape cases in Davao City because there were many beautiful women there. To this, 63 percent found the President’s statement vulgar, while 33 percent disagreed.

The almost five percent did not know if Duterte’s rape comment was vulgar or not.

However, the same survey found 70 percent of adult Filipinos satisfied, while 16 percent were dissatisfied. Meanwhile, 14 percent were undecided.

This yields a net satisfaction rating of +54, ranked by the pollster as “Very Good.” The score is nine points higher than a record-low of good (+45) in the second quarter this year.

The President’s net satisfaction rating rose from “good” to “very good” in class D or the masa, at +56. The 13-point increase from the June rating was met, however, by dips in Duterte’s ratings across all the other classes.

It fell from “very good” to “good” in classes ABC, at +41 — down by 25 points from June, while it had a seven-point decline down +45 in Class E.

SWS also pointed out that the 18-24 age group were slightly less satisfied with Duterte’s performance, following a one-point dip from its +50 net rating in June.

The survey was conducted from September 15 to 23 through face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide.