Many Filipinos continue to trust and express satisfaction with President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

In a virtual press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque refuted the claim of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV that Duterte’s approval scores are going “down.”

“Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang tinitingnan niyang survey (I don’t know what survey he is citing),” Roque said.

Roque said Trillanes should first study the survey results showing Duterte’s high approval and trust scores before making any claim that the Chief Executive is losing public trust and confidence.

“So, pag-aralan po nang mabuti ni Senator Trillanes ang mga survey results ng makita niya na patuloy pong nagtitiwala at patuloy pong satisfied ang taumbayan sa ating Presidente (Senator Trillanes should study well the survey results for him to realize that many of our countrymen still trust and are satisfied with our President),” he said.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Trillanes posted a screenshot of the graph charting the results of July 13 to 14 survey conducted by Magdalo Group in the “Luzon Belt” which showed the supposed decline in Duterte’s approval ratings.

Trillanes said it is “good news” that many are “waking up” since Duterte’s approval scores are going “down” for the “fifth straight time.”

Trillanes added that the opposition is now getting a “higher” chance to win in the 2022 elections.

Private polling firm Pulse Asia, in its last survey conducted from Sept. 14 to 20, 2020, found that Duterte’s approval and trust ratings both rose to 91 percent.

PUBLiCUS Asia Inc.’s March 20 to 29 survey also revealed that Duterte maintained high approval and trust scores — 65 percent and 55 percent, respectively — despite the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Trillanes earlier bared his plan to run for president next year, if Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo decides not to join the presidential race.

Robredo, who remains undecided with regard to her 2022 political plans, on Tuesday said she will not treat Duterte the way he treated her, if she decides to run and win the country’s top post.

She issued the statement in response to a hypothetical question on the possibility of Duterte seeking the vice presidency and eventually winning the elections.

Robredo, in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s After The Fact, said it would be best that the President and the Vice President are “not fighting.”

Responding to Robredo’s remarks, Roque said it is too early to make such a pronouncement.

“Tayo po ang umuukit ng ating tadhana at saka tignan muna po natin kung sino ang mananalong presidente (We are the one who is making our destiny. And let us see first who will win as president),” Roque said.

Roque added that Robredo, instead of working with the Duterte government to serve the public, chose to be the opposition’s leader.

“Parang napakaikli naman po ng memorya ng ating Vice Presidente. Nakalimutan ba ho niyang binigyan po siya ng Cabinet post ng ating Presidente pero mas pinili niyang maging lider ng oposisyon (She perhaps has a short memory. Did she already forget that the President gave her a Cabinet post but she decided to be the leader of the opposition),” he said.

Duterte in 2016 tapped Robredo as the head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, but the latter stepped down from post after being asked to stop attending Cabinet meetings.

Robredo was also appointed as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs in 2019, but her role was short-lived after Duterte fired her. (PNA)