SWS: 45% of Filipinos believe Duterte has health problems

MANILA, Philippines — Forty-five percent of Filipinos believe that President Rodrigo Duterte is facing health woes, according to the latest poll conducted by the Social Weather Station.

Results of the third quarter poll also showed that only 26 percent do not believe Duterte has health problems and 29 percent were undecided.

Based on the survey, the belief that Duterte has health problems is stronger in Metro Manila (53%), urban areas (52%), upper classes (50% of class ABC and 47% of class D) and among those with higher educational attainment (51% of college or post-graduate degree-holders).

Meanwhile, 55 percent worry that the president will have health problems while 44 percent are not worried. The proportion of those who worry that Duterte will have health woes is highest in Mindanao (61%), followed by Metro Manila (59%), Balance Luzon (53%) and the Visayas (51%). 

The survey also found that 61 percent of Filipinos agree that the state of health of the president is a “public matter that is why the public should be informed of everything about this.” At least 33 percent, on the other hand, said the Duterte’s health is a private matter.

Only six percent have no opinion on the president’s state of public health as a public matter.

The survey was conducted by the SWS from Sept. 15 to 23, 2018 and was released Sunday, just days after Duterte admitted that he missed a Cabinet meeting last Wednesday as he went to Cardinal Santos hospital for tests.

Palace officials including Presidential Harry Roque, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go earlier denied that Duterte went to the hospital amid questions on the president's health.

Duterte, however, said that if he has a serious illness he would inform the public.

SWS used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide. It has a sampling error margin of ±3% for national percentages, ±4% for Balance Luzon, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao. — Rosette Adel