By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz The appreciation and trust of Filipinos in President Duterte have declined by seven and 11 percentage points, respectively, in the latest Pulse Asia survey results. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during his meeting with the Filipino community at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNH) in Moscow on October 5, 2019. (ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO) In the nationwide survey conducted from September 16 to 22 with 1,200 respondents, Pulse Asia found that 78 percent of Filipinos appreciate the work done by President Duterte in the past three months. The latest figure is lower by seven percentage points from the 85 percent in June 2019. Malacañang, however brushed aside the drop in the President’s trust and approval ratings, saying the numbers are "still high.” "The rating is still high. It’s more than 70 percent," Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press conference at the Palace. Panelo acknowledged that survey results "fluctuate" depending on when the poll was taken. "If it is taken at a time when there are controversies hounding, it may affect the survey results. The fact remains that 78 percent plus remains still high," he added READ MORE: Palace says Duterte’s trust, approval ratings still high despite 9-percent drop Vice President Leni Robredo and Senate President Vicente Sotto III also saw declines in approval ratings from 55 percent to 50 percent, and from 77 percent to 72 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano received a 64 percent approval rating. This is the first time Cayetano was included in the survey. READ MORE: On Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan: ‘Exemplary’ trust rating prods House to ‘work harder’ Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin is the only top government official who got a slightly improved approval rating of 42 percent in September from 41 percent in June. Pulse Asia noted that majority approval ratings across all geographic areas (Metro Manila, rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao), and socio-economic classes (upper-to-middle Class ABC, Class D or “masa” and Class E or the poorest) were enjoyed by President Duterte (69 percent to 92 percent and 75 percent to 84 percent, respectively), Sotto (69 percent to 77 percent and 72 percent to 78 percent, respectively), and Cayetano (55 percent to 75 percent and 57 percent to 71 percent, respectively). Vice President Robredo received majority approval scores in Visayas (68 percent), Mindanao (53 percent), and Class E (66 percent), plurality approval figures in the rest of Luzon (44 percent) and Class D (48 percent), and basically the same approval and indecision ratings in Metro Manila (41 percent versus 37 percent), and Class C (39 percent versus 38 percent). As for Chief Justice Bersamin, most of those in Visayas (54 percent) approved of his performance, while a bare majority of those in Metro Manila (51 percent) were unable to say if they approve or disapprove of the same. In the same survey period, President Duterte registered lower trust rating of 74 percent in September from 85 percent in June. All the other officials, Robredo, Sotto, and Bersamin, except Cayetano, also got lower trust ratings in September (52 percent to 46 percent, 73 percent to 66 percent, and 35 percent to 34 percent, respectively). Cayetano’s initial trust rating is 62 percent. Trust rating Pulse Asia said trust is the prevailing sentiment in the different geographic areas and socio-economic groupings toward President Duterte (62 percent to 91 percent and 71 percent to 80 percent, respectively), Sotto (61 percent to 72 percent and 63 percent to 71 percent, respectively), and Cayetano (53 percent to 76 percent and 51 percent to 67 percent, respectively). In contrast, the pollster pointed out that the only majority trust ratings of Vice President Robredo was in Visayas (60 percent and those in Class E (63 percent). Big pluralities to near majorities in Mindanao (49 percent and Class D (43 percent) also trust the Vice President, Pulse Asia said, while practically the same trust and indecision figures were obtained from Metro Manila (44 percent versus 36 percent). Meanwhile, public opinion regarding her trustworthiness is split three-ways among those in Luzon and Class C with 37 percent to 38 percent trusting her, 32 percent to 34 percent expressing distrust, and 30 percent being undecided on the matter. Pulse Asia noted that Bersamin failed to register any majority figure across geographic areas and socio-economic classes. Most of those in Metro Manila (56 percent), those residing in the rest of Luzon (53 percent), and those in Class C (61 percent) cannot say if they trust or distrust the Chief Justice. (with a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)