PAHAYAG survey: VP Sara Duterte's approval and trust ratings inch up to 29% and 27%

Vice President Sara Duterte's approval and trust ratings rose by one percentage point each in the third quarter of 2026, according to the latest PAHAYAG survey reported by Mindanao Times. Her approval went up to 29% from 28% in the second quarter, and her trust rating climbed to 27% from 26%. Roughly five in 10 Filipinos, however, remain dissatisfied with and distrustful of her performance.

Respondents who rated her positively most often cited calamity assistance from the Office of the Vice President (OVP), at 12%, and her perceived presence and visibility, at 9%. These favourable views were stronger in Mindanao, at 21%.

The survey also tracked how voters reacted to testimonies from three OVP and Department of Education (DepEd) officials that linked Army Colonel Lachica to the use of confidential funds. Eight percent said the testimonies affected their view positively, but 13% said the effect was negative. The pollster said the disclosures appear to have increased scrutiny over whether those expenditures were properly justified.

Another 13% pointed to the reported position of military officials that a military certification alone does not justify DepEd's use of confidential funds. The proposed 2027 OVP budget, cited by 14%, also continued to weigh on assessments because of the confidential funds controversy, even though it is 11.7% lower than the 2026 allocation.

On personality, bravery was the trait most associated with the Vice President, at 40%. It was followed by concern for fellow Filipinos (27%), love of country (25%), being pro-poor (21%) and authenticity (21%). By contrast, nearly half of registered voters could not name a defining trait for other top national officials.

The PQ3-2026 survey was an independent, non-commissioned nationwide purposive sampling poll conducted from October 1 to 4, 2026. It covered 1,581 registered voters drawn at random from the market research panel of US-based PureSpectrum and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%. PAHAYAG is a corporate social responsibility project of PUBLiCUS Asia Inc.