The latest surveys measuring the performance approval of President Rodrigo R. Duterte caused local pundits—particularly those inclined to be in opposition to the President—rushing to somehow discredit the results.
The “Third Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey” found 67 percent of adult Filipinos satisfied, 14 percent undecided and 19 percent dissatisfied with Duterte’s performance. The results from Pulse Asia Research were 80 percent approval, 13 percent undecided and 7 percent disapproving of the President’s performance.
Both polling companies found that the administration has lost some ground from previous surveys. However, certain commentators seemed to be in shock that the drop in “approval” and “satisfaction” were not higher considering all the events that have taken place in the past six months. The unresolved situation—at the time the surveys were conducted—in Marawi, the “war on drugs” and the other battles with those who have strongly criticized the President seemed to have not done much damage to public opinion.
The pundits spent more effort on questioning the reliability and methodology of the surveys than examining why the public has relatively strong support for the current administration.
At about the same time as these surveys were conducted, Pew Research Center was releasing the results of its survey across 38 nations conducted earlier this year. This survey asked about which form of government would be better. The overwhelming response was a “representative democracy” with the people involved in decision-making.
Interestingly, the least support for “democracy” came from South America and the highest support from Europe, with East Asia including Asean close behind. However, another question was asked with different results.
“Would a system in which a strong leader can make decisions without interference from parliament or the courts be a good way to govern your country?” European Union nations were strongly and almost universally against this idea. But when asked, “How satisfied are you with the way democracy is working in your country?”—50 percent of Europeans were not satisfied. In East Asia, 64 percent were satisfied.
For the Philippines, 69 percent are satisfied with democracy even as a slightly higher than median 12 percent are willing to try a non-democratic government. The Philippines scored a near global high of 80 percent when asked, “How much do you trust the national government to do what is right for your country?”
The one question that might explain Duterte’s performance ratings was “Do you think a system in which a strong leader can make decisions without interference from parliament or the courts is a good form of government?” Fifty percent of Filipinos answered “Very or Somewhat Good.”
In 20 countries, a quarter or more of those polled think a system in which a strong leader can make decisions without interference from parliament or the courts is a good form of government.
Three nations—India (55 percent), Indonesia (52 percent) and the Philippines (50 percent)—stood out favoring a “strongman” rule of government. What is attention grabbing is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has an approval rating in the high 70 percent area; Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s approval rating stands at 68 percent, and President Duterte’s is also above 70 percent based on an average of the two recent local surveys. These approval ratings are among the highest, if not the highest, in the world.
The dilemma, though, in looking at the results is this: Are these leaders holding high approval ratings because they are “strongmen”? Or are they considered “strong” because they have high approval ratings?