Duterte’s Popularity Falls During Prison Controversy, Survey Shows

SOCHI, RUSSIA: The Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte attends the plenary session of the 16th annual meeting titled "The Dawn of the East and the World Political Order" and held by the Valdai Discussion Club at Polyana 1389 Hotel. (Photo: Mikhail Metzel\TASS via Getty Images)
SOCHI, RUSSIA: The Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte attends the plenary session of the 16th annual meeting titled "The Dawn of the East and the World Political Order" and held by the Valdai Discussion Club at Polyana 1389 Hotel. (Photo: Mikhail Metzel\TASS via Getty Images)

By Andreo Calonzo

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s popularity ratings dropped in September amid a probe on alleged irregularities in the nation’s jails.

Duterte kept his majority support even as his approval rating declined to 78% in September from 85% in June, while his trust rating was down 11 percentage points to 74% last month, pollster Pulse Asia said in emailed survey results.

The nationwide survey was conducted on 1,200 adults from September 16 to 22, more than a week after he fired his prisons chief on allegations that some high-profile convicts were allowed early release.

© 2019 Bloomberg L.P.