​Teflon President

PHILIPPINES - In Brief 05 Oct 2020 by Romeo Bernardo

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It is all over the news, 91% of 1,200 surveyed respondents said they approved of President Rodrigo Duterte’s performance and trusted him. The survey was conducted from September 14-20, following one of the worst outbreaks of covid19 in the region and the most stringent and longest lockdowns anywhere. The results are even improvements over the President’s approval and trust ratings of 87% and 83%, respectively, in December 2019, the last survey before the covid19 crisis. What explains the ratings, which fly in the face of a severe domestic economic contraction, separate surveys showing over seven million families suffering hunger in the past three months and unemployment plus underemployment reaching 27% of the labor force, as well as the most recent corruption scandal involving the state health insurance agency? One of the country’s most respected sociologists is of the view that the survey readings are not really measuring approval or satisfaction with presidential performance but reflects an “expression of emotional disposition/attachment” to the President “rooted in long dormant feelings of resentment, grievance and hatred for the system.” We have no better explanation. But that leaves us wondering - is he really President Teflon? And does it mean a cake walk for his chosen candidate come 2022? While his personal popularity may not be transferrable, is there an exception for his daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte? Will he finally manage to do what his four predecessors failed at, succession planning? Will his Teflon shield remain for the next 19 months?