MANILA — A recent survey conducted by OCTA Research indicates that 61 percent of Filipinos support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s response to the ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The fourth quarter Tugon ng Masa Survey, conducted from December 10 to 14, shows a notable increase from the third quarter, with three percentage points higher approval.

Only eight percent of respondents disagreed with the government’s approach, while 31 percent remained undecided on the matter.

The National Capital Region recorded the highest approval rating at 67 percent, while Mindanao had the lowest at 52 percent.

Additionally, respondents from socioeconomic class D showed the highest agreement, with 64 percent supporting the government’s stance.

The survey, with 1,200 respondents, carries a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

(By el Amigo/MNM)

Photo from PTV

By Junex Doronio

SAYING THAT HIS FATHER FIGURE PREFERS ACTION THAN to debates, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has revealed that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is not really “too interested” in running for senator in the upcoming midterm elections in 2025.

This developed after news broke out that FRRD’s son Davao City’s 1st district Representative Paulo “Pulong” Zimmerman Duterte has been consistently included in the Magic 12 list of senatorial candidates, ranking 9 to 12, in recent surveys.

Octa Research fellow Guido David earlier said that Pulong could be a viable candidate in the next Senate elections.

Acknowledging the former president’s advanced age, Dela Rosa said that he wanted Duterte to take a rest from government service.

“On the personal note, pagpahingahin na natin. Kawawa naman ang tao. Matanda na, pagpahingahin na natin, para mag-enjoy siya sa buhay niya,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with Radyo 630 on Sunday, November 5.

To recall, Duterte once served as a representative of Davao City’s 1st district, from June 30, 1998, to June 30, 2001.

Nothing significant can be heard of Duterte’s performance as a congressman during his three-year term.

“Mukhang hindi naman sarado, pero kulang lang talaga siya ng interes as of now,” Dela Rosa admitted.

He added: “Galing na siya Presidente. Napagod na siya, at ngayon hanap ka na naman trabaho. Si PRRD ayaw niya ng buhay legislator. Ayaw niya puro debate. Gusto nya aksyon.”

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

IN AN UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT, former President and incumbent House Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday congratulated Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on his high trust rating.

“I would like to congratulate House Speaker and Lakas President Martin Romualdez on the recent OCTA Research Report reflecting a +6% increase in Trust Rating to 60%,” the former president said in a statement.

According to the third quarter survey of OCTA Research conducted from September 30 to October 4, Romualdez garnered a 60% trust rating and 61% performance rating.

Both the Speaker’s trust and performance ratings increased by 6% compared to the survey conducted in July.

Arroyo’s congratulatory remarks on MR caught many by surprise as the former president is widely known to be the political mentor of Inday Sara, monicker of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The younger Duterte was instrumental in installing FPGMA as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2018 after ousting Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez of Davao del Norte’s 1st district.

MR — as Romualdez supporters call him — is expected to run for president in 2028 in his bid to succeed his cousin President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

MR and Inday Sara are the main protagonists in the 2028 presidential race.

(ai/mnm)