FEBRUARY 12, 2026 — Filipinos have spoken, and the numbers are telling. The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows Vice President Sara Duterte and Senate President Vicente Sotto III enjoying higher satisfaction ratings than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — a result that should make Malacañang sit up and listen.

Duterte’s satisfaction rating climbed to 54 percent in November, up from 52 percent in September. Dissatisfaction with her dropped to 26 percent, giving her a net satisfaction score of +28. That’s a “moderate” rating, but the upward trend is clear. 

Sotto, meanwhile, secured a +16 net satisfaction rating, with 46 percent satisfied and 30 percent dissatisfied. Not bad for someone who only assumed the Senate presidency in September.

Now, compare that with Marcos. His numbers remain stuck in “neutral” territory at -3, with 40 percent satisfied and 43 percent dissatisfied. That’s barely an improvement from his -5 rating in September. 

For a sitting president, that’s a red flag. When the country’s top leader is trailing behind his vice president and Senate president in public trust, what does that say about his grip on the nation’s pulse?

Other officials fared differently. Speaker Bojie Dy managed a slight bump to +5, while Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo held steady at +9. These are “neutral” ratings, but they show stability — something Marcos can’t quite claim right now.

So Filipinos are signaling where their trust lies, and it’s not with the president. Duterte’s steady climb suggests she’s connecting with the public in ways Marcos isn’t. Sotto’s numbers, though modest, show he’s holding ground. And the rest? Hovering in the middle, neither loved nor loathed.

So the question is, what will Marcos do with this reality? Will he recalibrate his leadership style, or will he continue to shrug off the warning signs? Because if the vice president and Senate president are pulling ahead in public trust, the palace might soon find itself playing catch-up.

If we, apparently, trust Sara and Sotto more than Marcos, isn’t that the loudest wake-up call the president can get?

(Image: Inday Sara Duterte / Senate of the Philippines / Bongbong Marcos | Facebook)