MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 11, 2026 — Vice President Sara Duterte’s satisfaction rating rose in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in November 2025, showing improved public sentiment toward her performance.

According to the Fourth Quarter 2025 Social Weather Report, Duterte received a net satisfaction rating of +28, up six points from +22 in September 2025. The survey, conducted from November 24 to 30, involved face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide — 300 each from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The margin of error was ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for each regional breakdown.

The survey found that 54 percent of respondents were satisfied with Duterte’s performance, while 26 percent expressed dissatisfaction. The remaining respondents were undecided. SWS noted that the survey was non-commissioned, meaning it was conducted independently without sponsorship from any political group.

The same poll showed Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto with a net satisfaction rating of +16, Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III at +5, and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at +9. Compared to September 2025, Sotto’s rating remained steady, while Dy and Gesmundo saw slight increases.

Analysts say Duterte’s improved numbers reflect her continued visibility and strong base of support, particularly in Mindanao, where she has consistently polled higher than in other regions. The increase also comes amid ongoing political controversies, including impeachment complaints filed against her, which she has dismissed as baseless.

The survey results highlight the shifting dynamics of public opinion as the country heads into a politically charged year, with Duterte’s satisfaction rating contrasting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s neutral net satisfaction rating of -3 in the same period. 

Approval Ratings Don’t Cancel Accountability

A rise in satisfaction ratings may reflect public mood, but it does not settle questions of governance. Popularity measures perception, not performance metrics, and it can grow even while serious allegations remain unresolved.

Surveys can strengthen political insulation. When officials gain momentum in public opinion, institutions may feel less pressure to investigate, critics may hesitate, and accountability processes can be reframed as “noise” rather than oversight. This is how power consolidates quietly, through numbers that become political armor.

Public approval matters in a democracy, but it is not a substitute for transparency. If popularity becomes a shield against scrutiny, what happens when trust in institutions is replaced by trust in personalities?