Palace: Survey saying Duterte is better President ‘a fact’

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the closing ceremony of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits at the Philippine International Convention Center on November 14, 2017, expresses the country’s continuing commitment to building a strong and resilient ASEAN Community. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA— Malacanang on Monday said majority of the Filipinos were just telling the truth when they said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is better compared to his predecessor Benigno Aquino III.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this comment on Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showing that 70 percent of the Filipinos believe President Duterte is better compared to Aquino.

“I think that survey proves what they already know as a fact,” Roque reacted on survey conducted from Dec.

8-17 last year.

“Incidentally, in addition to the 70 percent who believe that he is a better president, 86 percent of the Filipinos also believe that the President is taking the right direction. That again is a fact,”

Based on SWS survey, President Duterte got 86 percent approval in Mindanao while 73 percent in the National Capital Region, 64 percent in Visayas and 63 percent in Luzon said Duterte performed better than Aquino.

Only 8 percent of the respondents said the late former President Corazon Aquino’s son is better president.

The survey also showed that 69 percent of the Filipinos believe President Duterte’s actions are appropriate for a president.

Another 18 percent said Duterte’s actions were inappropriate, while 13 percent were undecided.