DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 March) — Public opinion in Mindanao remains sharply divided between the country’s top leaders, with most respondents expressing distrust in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and overwhelming trust in Vice President Sara Duterte, according to a Pulse Asia survey. Released on Wednesday, the survey conducted from February 27 to March 2, 2026, highlights the reasons behind these trust and distrust ratings. Nationwide, 35% trust Marcos while 54% trust Duterte. In Mindanao, 77% distrust Marcos, with only 10% trusting him and 13% undecided. Meanwhile, 97% trust Duterte, with only 1% expressing distrust and 2% undecided. Among Mindanao respondents who trust Marcos, the top reasons cited were improvements in quality of life (25.7%) and assistance to disaster-affected communities (18.3%). Nationally, trust in Marcos is driven by his perceived fight against corruption (28.6%). Economic concerns, particularly the rising cost of basic goods, are a key source of uncertainty, cited by 39.3% nationwide and 35.7% in Mindanao among those undecided about Marcos. Distrust in Marcos stems from varied reasons, including failure to fight corruption (16.7% nationwide, 6.2% in Mindanao), unmet promises (15.3% nationwide, 20.8% in Mindanao), and perceived inaction (13.8% nationwide, 21.4% in Mindanao). In contrast, trust in Duterte is more dispersed, with reasons such as leadership capability (12.8%), pro-poor stance (12.7%), courage (12.4%), and approachability (9.1%) cited nationwide. In Mindanao, trust in Duterte is attributed to her courage and helpfulness (13.9% each), capability (12.7%), strong principles (10.1%), political lineage (7.5%), and pro-poor positioning (6.5%). Distrust in Duterte, however, is concentrated, with 51.5% nationwide and 90.7% in Mindanao citing her alleged involvement in corruption as the primary reason. Among those undecided about Duterte, 51% nationwide and 47.9% in Mindanao attributed their uncertainty to unresolved issues surrounding the use of confidential funds, Office of the Vice President funds, or Department of Education funds. Duterte, who served as Education Secretary from June 30, 2022, resigned two years later. The Pulse Asia findings suggest distinct patterns in leadership evaluation: trust in Marcos is shaped by material conditions and service delivery, particularly in Mindanao, while perceptions of Duterte are influenced by accountability concerns, especially corruption. (Bea Gatmaytan / MindaNews)
