Pulso ng Pilipino
LATEST NEWS
VP Sara Keeps High Ratings,
PBBM Rebounds;
PULSO NG PILIPINO --- Vice President Sara Z. Duterte Carpio maintained her excellent satisfaction rating notwithstanding the recent transmission of the Articles of Impeachment by the House of Representatives to the Senate which is now convened as an Impeachment Court.
In the latest Pulso ng Pilipino Tracking Poll conducted on May 18 to 23, 2026 by the Issues and Advocacy Center (The Center), some 47% of the 1,800 respondents surveyed said they are satisfied at the performance of President Bongbong Marcos during the period leading to the time the survey was conducted.
Overall, the net satisfaction rating of PBBM amounted to plus (+) 9 per cent with some 38% saying they are dissatisfied with the President’s performance during the period covered by the survey.
On the other hand, the satisfaction rating of the Vice President remains at very high level with a net satisfaction rating of plus (+) 33% from the 59% of respondents saying they approve of VP Duterte’s performance as against 26% who said they are dissatisfied with the Vice President’s performance.
Some 15% and 16% are not definitive of their perception with regards the performance of the president and the vice president, respectively.
PRES. BONGBONG MARCOS
VICE PRES. SARA DUTERTE
Meanwhile, the two Houses of Congress for the first time find themselves saddled with a negative perception from a public that has had enough of the seeming lack of decorum from the members of the two chambers.
The Pulso ng Pilipino departed from the common extraction of the public’s perception pertaining to the heads of the two legislative bodies due to the recent changes in the leadership of the Senate. As such, the Pulso ng Pilipino decided to generate the public’s perceptibility of the two legislative bodies as an institution as a whole.
The Senate posted a negative (-) 11% satisfaction rating as a whole from out of the 49% of the respondents saying they are dissatisfied with the way the Senate performed during the period in review as against the 38% who claimed they are satisfied with the performance of the Senate.
The Senate’s leadership changed dramatically on May 11, 2026 which caught the public by surprise and this was followed by the chaotic and tumultuous event when armed men occupied an access area dividing the Senate and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) which owns the entire complex including the areas leased to the Senate.
The Lower House which in recent months has been dragged into the so-called “maleta” issue relative to the flood control project scandal posted a negative (-) 13% out of the 52% who said they are dissatisfied with the HOR’s performance as against the 39% who said the Lower House did fairly well. (See Satisfaction Rating)
TRUST RATING
Some 61% of those surveyed, at the same time, said they continue to place their trust in Vice President Duterte as against the 25% who said they distrust her bringing the vice president’s net trust rating to a very high plus (+) 36%.
PBBM’s trust rating wasn’t exactly bad as 49% of those surveyed said they still trust the President as against the 37% of respondents who distrust the Chief Executive for a net trust rating of plus (+) 12%
The trust raring of the Senate of the Philippines as a whole also crashed to its lowest level in recent years when 52% of those surveyed said they no longer trust the Senate can still carry out its mandate as a legislature. Only 37% said they still trust the Senate for a net negative (-) 15% trust rating nationwide.
The negative issues hounding the House of Representatives especially those that have dragged the Lower House to the bottomless pit of public opinion was seen as the primary reason why the trust rating of the Lower House went into an unstoppable downward spiral leading to negative (-) 12% from the 49% who have lost their trust in the House of Representatives as against the 37% who claimed they still trust the Lower House.
Overall, the negative ratings received by both House of Congress from a discerning public that is athirst for an accountable and transparent governance are largely due to the chaotic scenario that the country had witnessed at the Senate in recent weeks and the controversial "maleta" cases that has dragged several member of the Lower House into the flood control project scandal. (See Trust Rating)
Tight Senate Race Seen in 2028 Polls,
Grace Poe Leads as Vico, Robin Vacillates
There is unanimity among the country’s top political observers who said that it will be a tight race for the 12 available seats in the scheduled senatorial elections in 2028 as the list of senatorial candidates include seven incumbent Senators who are seeking reelection.
They will be joined by four come backing Senators namely: former Senators Grace Poe Llamanzares who topped the survey at No. 1 with 61%, Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao (7-8 at 46%), Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara (11-15 at 37%) and Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III (16-20 with 28%).
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto is at No. 3 with 53% but there are reliable reports that like Sen. Robin Padilla, the Pasig City hizzoner is not that keen in running for a higher position in 2028.
Political insiders said that the Pasig City Mayor who gained fame in stamping out corruption through transparency and accountability has expressed his disappointment at the level of corruption and patronage politics in government.
Those seeking reelection are: Senators Raffy Tulfo (No. 2 at 59%), Loren Legarda (No. 4-5 with 52%), Robin Padilla (No. 6 at 50%), Alan Peter Cayetano (7-8 with 46%), DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (9-10 at 43%), Mark Villar (9-10 with 42%) and JV Ejercito (11-15 at 39%),.
Other probable senatorial candidates include four Cabinet Members namely, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla (24%), (Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro (20%), and Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III (10%).
If these formidable phalanx of senatoriables are not enough, other notable candidates who will likely throw their hats into the senatorial arena include Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte (52% at No. 4-5), Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte (38% at 11-15) and TV Reality star Ben ‘Bitag’ Tulfo (11-15 at 39%).
Also making the grade are MTRCB chairperson and TV celebrity Diorella ‘Lala’ Sotto (16-20 with 27%). Ms. Sotto is an old hand in politics. She has served for 18 years in two separate three consecutive terms as a member of the Quezon City Council.
Also in the running are the Binay siblings – former Senator and incumbent Makati Mayor Nancy Binay (21-23 at 26%) and former Makati Makati Mayor Abigail Binay at 24-25 position with 22%. There are persistent reports, however, that the Binay siblings will forego their plans to run for the Senate and have opted to face-off for the Makati mayoralty race in 2028.
The CENTER said the preferences based on perception is still on the high side since many voters have not yet narrowed down on their choices for 2028. This will begin to filter in the months or weeks leading to the 2028 polls.
Others who have a statistical chance to make it to the winners' circle are former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, former Sen, Koko Pimentel, MTRCB Chair Diorella 'Lala' Sotto and Lawyer Jimmy Bondoc. (See Senatorial Stats) # # #
ABALOS, Bbenhur PIMENTEL, Koko SOTTO, Lala BONDOC, Jimmy
Migz, Win, Bong Go, TitoSen, Bam, Raffy
Top Senate Performers
Despite the tumultuous scenarios that the nation saw at the Senate of the Philippines in recent weeks, the respondents of the latest Pulso ng Pilipino survey still gave their approval for the members of the Senate. This segment of the survey actually included not just the work of the incumbent Senators in the performance of their duties as legislators but also in their socio-political work outside of the Halls of the Senate.
The Pulso ng Pilipino survey tracked, monitored and measured their individual perforances outside of the Senate especially in the delivery of basic services to their constituents at large. Despite the tumultuous change in the leadership of the Senate and the ensuing chaos when agents of the National Bureau of Investigation stepped into the halls of the Upper Chamber to serve the warrant of arrest against Sen. Bato dela Rosa, many of the Senators of the 20th Congress performed creditably well to promote their respective advocacies and socio-economic projects.
The performance of many of the Senate members individually was well received by the respondents who were surveyed during the period in review despite the distractions resulting from the standoff caused by the seemingly unethical occupation of the Senate by another government agency that tried to enforce the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Sen. Bato Dela Rosa. (See Top Senate) # # #
Con-Con Preferred for Charter Change
The holding of a Constitutional Convention with delegates being elected by regions appears to be the most favored mode when the proposal to amend and or change the present 1987 Philippine Constitution is approved.
In the same Pulso ng Pilipino survey conducted on May 18 to 23, 2026, some 38% of the respondents said they favor the election of delegates to form a Constitutional Convention that will be tasked to either amend certain provisions of the existing charter and or change the entire Constitution to make it compatible with the country’s current social and political needs.
Twenty nine (29) per cent of the respondents are in favor of a less expensive Constituent Assembly that will be formed by uniting the two Houses of Congress – the Senate and the House of Representatives to change or amend the Charter.
However, this is easier said than done because it remains unclear if both Houses of Congress will vote as one or will maintain the current setup wherein the Senate and the Lower House will vote separately.
Only 21% are in favor of the People’s Initiative which requires the signatures of 12% of all registered voters nationwide with each legislative district represented by at least 3% of its registered voters. This mode is contentious since the gathering of signatures is prone to manipulation and even fraud.
Some 47% of the respondents said they are in favor of proposals to amend or change the Constitution while 39% are not in favor of amending the Constitution at this time.
But should the plans to amend the Constitution push through, 48% of those surveyed said they would rather have a Parliamentary System form of government rather than the other proposal to install a Federal Form of government in place of the existing presidential-democratic system of governance.
The chaotic change in the leadership of the Senate and the marketplace environment pervading in the House of Representatives reinforces the need to institute political reforms through an amendment of the Constitution.
Such a need is borne out of the apparent unworkability of the present political system in which a multi-party system is incompatible with the democratic presidential form of government.
A multi-party system such as what is currently operative in the Philippine political system thrives in a unicameral parliamentary form of government which is why there is now an urgent need to amend the Constitution to create a form of government that is compatible with the present political reality. (See Charter Change)
Pinoys Upbeat as Impeachment
Trial vs. VP Sara Duterte Begins
As the country braces for the forthcoming trial of Vice President Sara Duterte Z. Carpio by the Impeachment Court, the Pulso ng Pilipino survey shows an overwhelming 98% of the respondents welcome the submission of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate by the House of Representatives.
Regardless of whatever bias the respondents may have, the underlying sentiment reflected in the Pulso ng Pilipino survey shows that the impeachment is necessary so as to ferret out the truth behind the numerous allegations that have been levied against the Vice President.
The impeachment trial will provide the embattled Vice President with a venue to respond and refute all the allegations of wrongdoing against her. The Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court on July 6, 2026 and will conduct trials on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. (See Impeachment)
ARCHIVE
Cabinet Revamp: Step In The Right Direction
In the aftermath of the May 12, 2025 mid-term polls, the Marcos Administration must now focus on the most important mission – to build a lasting legacy as it enters the final three years of its term.
With no significant accomplishments recorded in the last three years, which is of course debatable as the usual drumbeaters and rah-rah boys will be quick to point out that I am wrong, the President’s immediate task is to put his house in order lest it finds itself falling off the cliff with anxiety and restlessness written in
the faces of the business community and other sectors of society particularly that part on whose support the survival of the government rests.
Mr. Marcos must man up and take the helm of M/V Pilipinas to steer the government back on course. From here on, the President will have to make tough decisions beginning with a sweeping Cabinet revamp. He must appoint officials who are not just qualified and capable of the office they will hold but officials armed with impeccable character and integrity and not some sleazy local politician who is more of a liability than an asset.
Collectively, the President can seek counsel of well-meaning business and political leaders but at the end of the day the final decision on whom to appoint rests on the shoulders of the President. There are tough decisions to be made. But these have to be done for the good of the country and people. This is why it is said that the presidency is a lonely job.
The time for the settling of the debt of gratitude is over. That should have been done in the first two or three years. The final three years should be spent on the building of a legacy of accomplishments and achievements that would resonate throughout the nation for years to come.
The President has two choices – to just survive and finish his term wallowing in mediocrity or to establish a legacy that will be attached to his name – where every nook and cranny of the country will speak his name with honor, respect, esteem, admiration and reverence.
If the Marcos Administration want a continuance of its governance, it must make sure that it succeeds in regaining its bearings to achieve even half of what he promised he would do when he ran for President in 2022.
The 2028 national elections will be decided based on what this current administration has done and to date the country lies in ruins from political intramurals and from the abject greed of some political leaders who have started campaigning for the 2028 presidency even when the current President has yet to take his oath of office.
There is something that many political leaders in this country forget either by chance or design. When a President is sworn into office, all political leaders regardless of their creed or color must gravitate towards the presidency as a show of unity and solidarity. Everyone – the Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, Cabinet Members must stand and form a circle around the presidency. When all hands are on board then you can be assured of a sturdy ship that is ready to withstand even the perils of the North Sea.
I am speaking from what I saw and witnessed during the Ramos Administration in 1992-1998 which saw three Senate Presidents who belong from different political persuasion – Neptali Gonzales (1992-1993), Edgardo Angara (1993-1995), Neptali Gonzales (1995-1996) and Ernesto Maceda (1996-1998). Yet President Fidel V. Ramos was able to push with its priority legislation through dialogue and cooperation. FVR created the LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council) to serve as an advisory and consultative body to the President.
In contrast, instead of providing the President with the support he needs to further the national economic agenda, some political leaders who are driven by power and ambition began expanding their own political base by buying the loyalty of political opportunists.
A good starting point for the President is to discard the irritants that have dragged his administration to the bottom of the pit - especially those who dragged you down and caused your Approval and Trust Ratings to plummet. First and foremost, of these is to secure, safeguard and exercise prudence in government budgeting and spending, Sadly, the public coffers have been treated by some enterprising politicos as their own piggy bank. This must stop. This wanton graft and corrupt practice must end. And the only one who can do this is the President.
The national coffers belong to the people and not to a select few and to be brazenly apportioned into a wasteful spending spree in the guise of financial relief for the poor – a program that has only instituted mendicancy instead of inspiring fecundity.
You still have a chance Mr. President. The current political disequilibrium can still be salvaged but it has to give way to a disciplined, accountable, transparent, inspiring and transformational leadership. Your recent statement for all to put a stop to political bickering and focus on nation-building is a step in the right direction. So is your plan to sit down and dialogue with certain political groups that were formerly allied with you and your Administration.
If need be, also study the ways of the previous presidents before you including the governance style of your Uncle Fidel and even that of former President GMA. Pick up what is good and scrap those things you are not comfortable with. But the important thing is for you Mr. President to be the President that you were elected to. The 2022 polls gave you a chance at redemption.
The country is counting on you. Please don’t blow it!
