MANILA – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is the most loving, caring, and decisive among the country’s top five government officials, according to a recent survey conducted by by political management and lobbying firm Publicus Asia.
Publicus Asia’s pilot Pahayag survey tested the people’s perception on Duterte, Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, in terms of the “Love, Care and Solidarity” index, and the “Decisiveness Index.”
Survey respondents were asked to choose which among the five officials they think is most loving, caring, and decisive.
The annual poll was conducted among 1,500 respondents from key cities nationwide from August 7 to 9 through face to face computer-aided personal interviews. The results were released on Monday, August 28.
Duterte got 90 percent decisiveness rating, while Robredo got five percent. On the other hand, Sereno, Pimentel and Alvarez all got one percent.
“In this day and age, I think decisiveness is the way to go in order to get things moving in this country,” said Publicus Asia founder and chief executive officer Malou Tiquia.
The president also scored the highest in terms of love, concern, and care for the country among the top government officials, earning 82 percent, 79 percent and 79 percent index ratings respectively.
“Maybe the results on Duterte are glaring because he is the top decision-maker. They might see his cursing as a reflection of his anger and exasperation,” Tiquia added.
Robredo only got 13 percent in terms of being loving; 17 percent in being concerned, and 16% in being caring.
She was followed by Pimentel with ratings of both one percent for being loving and caring, and two percent for being concerned. Only one percent of respondents deemed Alvarez as caring.
The chief justice, meanwhile, got zero percent in all three categories.
“As to Sereno, either the respondents do not know her or they don’t know the nature of her job,” Publicus Asia, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Lilibet Amatong explained.
Among the five most recent Philippine presidents, Corazon “Cory” Aquino had the highest votes as loving leader (38 percent).
She was followed by former Presidents Joseph Estrada with 27 percent, Fidel Ramos with ten percent, Benigno “Noynoy Aquino III with nine percent, and Arroyo with five percent.
Aquino, meanwhile, remains the most concerned with a rating of 33 percent, followed by Estrada (30 percent), Ramos (11 percent), Aquino III, (ten percent) and Arroyo (five percent).
In terms of approval and awareness, respondents were asked to assess the performance of the officials individually.
When it comes to awareness rating, Duterte got a perfect 100 percent. Robredo scored 87 percent, Sereno 45 percent, Pimentel 69 percent, and Alvarez 49 percent.
As for approval rating, Duterte got a total of 88 percent, Robredo 60 percent, Sereno 51 percent, Pimentel 66 percent, and Alvarez 57 percent.
“This survey tests the emotional quotient of the leaders… There are leaders who are trained all their lives to be a leader but cannot connect to the masses…We want to introduce EQ as a frame,” Tiquia said.
Duterte meets Kian’s parents, assures justice
Also on Monday, the president met with the parents of Kian Delos Santos, a Grade 11 student who was killed during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City after allegedly pulling a gun on police officers.
“During their meeting, the President reassured that there will be no interference in the case citing that only due process will prevail and that the handling of the case will be fair,” the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said in a statement.
In a video interview with Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, Kian’s mother, Lorenza, said Duterte assured them a speedy resolution of the case.
“Pinangako naman po niya sa amin na sa lalong madaling panahon ay tutulungan niya kaming malutas ang kaso dahil hindi po niya papayagan kung sinuman daw po iyong nagkasala ay dapat maparusahan (He promised that he will help us with a speedy resolution of the case because the guilty must be held liable),” she said.
Lorenza added that they are less worried now about the case after meeting with the President.
Kian’s father, Saldy, said they feel “more secure” after the meeting.
“Panatag na. Nawala na iyong takot sa buhay namin. Iyon lang po. Masaya (We don’t fear for our lives anymore. That’s it. We’re happy),” he further remarked. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)
