MANILA (May 15) — Public trust in the Senate plunged following its dramatic leadership shake-up, with many Filipinos seeing the change as more political than public service, according to a new nationwide survey by Tangere.
The survey, conducted May 12 to 13, showed Senate satisfaction ratings collapsing to 29 percent — a steep drop from 44 percent recorded during the same period last year.
At the same time, dissatisfaction with the chamber surged to 51 percent, while trust ratings slid to 27 percent. More than half of respondents, or 52 percent, said they distrusted the Senate.
The sharp decline came after the Senate’s surprise leadership overhaul that installed Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president through a Duterte-backed majority bloc.
For many Filipinos, the timing raised suspicions as the Senate prepares to handle the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The survey found that 83 percent of respondents believed the Senate leadership transition was politically motivated, while only 37 percent supported the change.
The findings reflect growing public frustration over political infighting inside the Senate during a period already marked by controversy, impeachment tensions, and questions surrounding accountability.
In contrast, the House of Representatives managed to keep steady public ratings even after advancing Duterte’s impeachment case.
The House recorded a 51-percent satisfaction rating and a 52-percent trust rating, while dissatisfaction and distrust both eased.
Tangere also found that 52 percent of Filipinos support Duterte’s impeachment, while 37 percent oppose it.
Support was strongest in Luzon and the Visayas, particularly among respondents aged 25 to 50. Opposition remained strongest in Mindanao, highlighting the continuing regional divide over the Duterte political camp.
The survey also measured public sentiment on Ronald dela Rosa and the arrest warrant linked to the International Criminal Court probe into the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
More than half of respondents said Dela Rosa should surrender to authorities, although most opposition to the move came from Mindanao respondents.
“These results show that Filipinos care deeply about how our government is run,” said Martin Peñaflor, chief executive officer of Tangere.
“When people feel that changes in leadership are just about playing politics instead of actually serving the public, they lose faith in the Senate,” he added.
For many online observers, the numbers signal more than a temporary drop in ratings — they reflect growing public exhaustion over political drama as Filipinos continue grappling with inflation, rising costs, and everyday economic pressures.
