BBM the comeback kid

VIRTUAL REALITY

- TONY LOPEZ

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. (BBM) has regained much of the trust in him by the people.

Filipinos' faith in the President was heavily eroded when he was suspected of being behind the March 11, 2025 arrest of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity and he failed to arrest the surge in high prices of prime commodities. (Thankfully, our inflation has fallen to a five-year low, 1.3 percent in May 2025 and 1.4 percent in June).

In June this year, BBM enjoyed a "much trust" rating of 48 percent, up 10 percentage points from 38 in May 2025 or by 26 percent. The 48 percent is his highest since the July 2024 rating of 64 percent. BBM's "little trust" rating fell from a high of 40 percent in March 2025 and April 2025 to 30 percent in June 2025. With three percent margin of error, 48 percent could be majority, 51 percent.

So 48 percent "much trust" less 30 percent "little trust" is a net trust rating of +18, BBM's highest since the +42 of July 2024, and after falling to -3 percent in March 2025, -4 in April 2025 and -1 in May 2025. From less than zero net trust rating, BBM now enjoys +18 percent net trust rating, a remarkable comeback in public affection.

Vice President Sara Duterte's net trust rating is stagnating or improving slightly at best.

Coming from a 12-month high of +45 percent in July 2024, Sara's net trust rating deteriorated steadily to +29 in September 2024, +23 in December 2024, and to a low of +19 in January 2025, before recovering to +23 in February 2025, +32 in March 2025 (BBM's -3 percent), +36 in April 2025 (BBM's -4), +37 in May 2025 (BBM's -1) and settling at +38 percent in June 2025 (BBM's +18).