MANILA (Updated)-- President Rodrigo Duterte's satisfaction rating has been hit by its steepest drop since he came to power last year amid an outcry over unabated drug killings and unresolved allegations that he has unexplained wealth, an independent poll showed Sunday, October 8.
The Social Weather Stations (SWS) said that its September 23-27 nationwide survey showed Duterte's satisfaction rating dropping by 18 points to 48, a level classified as "good," compared with its last survey in June, when he got a "very good" 66-point rating.
The President's trust rating dropped by 15 points to 60, which is classified as "very good," from his "excellent" grade of 75 points in June, according to the SWS poll.
Although Duterte generally remains popular, the survey outcome immediately reignited calls by several groups for an end to the killings of mostly poor suspects under his brutal crackdown against illegal drugs and for him to sign a bank secrecy waiver to allow an investigation into allegations by an opposition senator that he concealed undeclared wealth in past bank accounts.
Malacañang on Monday shrugged off the huge decline in Duterte's satisfaction rating, saying it was "expected" since the "honeymoon period" is over.
"[The SWS poll result] is expected, given the fact that people start measuring their expectations usually after the honeymoon period or after a year in office," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.
"These things usually happened and this was traditionally happening after a year or a year and a half, and you know, the love is still there," he added.
An alliance of civil society groups, called Tindig Pilipinas, said the steep drop in Duterte's satisfaction and trust ratings means the "honeymoon is over."
"The huge drop in the President's rating must serve notice to him: the people expect nothing but the truth on the allegations of corruption, ill-gotten wealth, and drug smuggling facilitation leveled against him and members of his family," the alliance said. "Mr. President, we reiterate our call: sign the bank waiver!"
"The people are now seeing through the hype and fake news, and are realizing that change is not coming under President Duterte's watch," left-wing Representative Emmi de Jesus said, citing "nonstop" drug killings, the rise in prices of commodities and the entry of a large shipment of illegal drugs through the Bureau of Customs in Manila.
Senators Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes IV, Duterte's critic, said the survey result is an "ominous warning" that President's authoritarian style of governance is losing its appeal and support among the public.
"The writing on the wall is simple and clear: President Duterte cannot govern based on fear, lies, and killings," Hontiveros said.
"They are now seeing Duterte for who he really is: a lying, rude, amoral, corrupt and oppressive former mayor who is totally incompetent about governance at the national level. Worse, his bloody war on drugs has killed thousands of his own people and created a climate of fear across the country," Trillanes said.
For Senator Panfilo Lacson, he said he sees nothing alarming considering that the rate of President Duterte is still high and pretty good.
Lacson said all presidents in the past have a similar situation as he maintained that it is already expected that some people will oppose the policy of the present government.
Senators Francis Escudero and Sherwin Gatchalian said that those behind the President must rethink on how they can serve the people better
"This survey only serves as a wake-up call for the present administration to change what needs to change. All surveys serve as a guide and reminder to all our leaders," Escudero said.
Senator Paulo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV said the Philippine National Police should rethink its strategy for the drug war and address the killings.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the government must better take a second look at their policies and the way they enforced their policies.
In the House of Representatives, Davao Representative Karlo Nograles and Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel said the administration should not worry about the recent drop in the ratings of the President as he is still doing "very well" compared to his predecessors.
There was no immediate comment from Duterte, but he has repeatedly denied that he condones extrajudicial killings of drug suspects even though he has publicly threatened drug dealers with death.
He won the presidency by a wide margin last year on a pledge to eradicate widespread crimes, especially drug trafficking and use, and corruption.
Police officials said the arrests of more than 100,000 suspected drug offenders in 71,393 anti-drug raids since July last year helped prove that suspects only get killed when they fight back and threaten law enforcers.
The drug killings recently came under renewed criticisms after police shot to death a teenage student they said was a drug dealer who drew a gun while being arrested. Witnesses, however, said the student was shot to death in a dark alley while pleading for his life.
Duterte has also denied allegations that he stashed large amounts of undeclared funds in joint bank accounts with members of his family, saying he would resign if the allegations were proven. He has refused, however, to heed a demand by opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV for him to sign a waiver to allow investigators to look into the bank accounts.
The SWS said it polled 1,500 adult Filipinos nationwide in face-to-face interviews for the survey, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percent. (AP/With Ruth Abbey Gita/PS Jun M. Sarmiento/Keith Calayag/VoxPop Philippines)