Will corruption backlash against Marcos reshape Philippine politics?
A new poll shows the president’s approval ratings tumbling, with Filipinos increasingly blaming government corruption for their struggles
The latest survey by Pulse Asia Research shows that Filipinos are increasingly blaming the government’s recent corruption scandals – from flood control “ghost projects” to lavish spending by politically connected contractors – for their daily struggles, such as inflation and inadequate infrastructure.
As a consequence, Marcos’ approval ratings plummeted to 33 per cent in September, nine points down from 42 per cent in June, according to the survey conducted from September 27 to 30.
Analysts say this discrepancy shows that Duterte-Carpio – the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who has gone from being Marcos’ ally to one of his chief political rivals – may be able to take advantage of the corruption backlash, potentially giving a boost to her family’s coalition and her 2028 presidential bid.
“It is clear that the president is hurt more by the corruption issues than the vice-president … While [Duterte-Carpio] is negatively affected by corruption issues too, what is different, in this case, is that she continues to enjoy the support of her political base,” Nathaniel Candelaria, assistant professor of political science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, told This Week in Asia.