ONE IN two Filipinos believe that government officials hailing from political dynasties tend to be more corrupt, according to the September 2024 national survey of non-partisan public opinion firm WR Numero.
In the latest Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, 50% agreed that public leaders from the same families may possibly be more corrupt. Only a few (16%) disagreed with the sentiment, while 31% were unsure (See Figure 1).
Among all regions, Metro Manila recorded the highest percentage of residents who agree with political dynasties’ tendency to be more corrupt, with 2 out of 3 in agreement. Metro Manila is followed by South Luzon (58%) and Visayas (51%). Only less than half in North-Central Luzon (43%) and Mindanao (40%) agreed.
Most Filipinos across all income classes and self-identified partisanship agree that officials from the same family have a higher propensity to be more corrupt (See Figure 2).
When asked if there is anything wrong with candidates from the same family running in elections, a significant majority (56%) of Filipinos said they see no issue. However, some 30% disagreed, and 15% unsure.
A great majority (65%) in Visayas found political dynasties running in elections to be acceptable, followed by Mindanao (58%), North-Central Luzon (56%), South Luzon (51%), and Metro Manila (46%) (See Figure 3).
Filipinos across all self-identified partisanship also seem to generally approve of candidates coming from the same family, with a great majority concurring among administration supporters (62%), opposition supporters (58%), and independent supporters (56%).
However, more Filipinos in socioeconomic class ABC disagreed (47%) with the acceptability of nominees running from the same families against those who agreed (37%) in that bracket. This stands in contrast with the other classes, where the majority in classes D (53%) and E (58%) believe there is nothing wrong with dynasties’ participation in the polls (See Figure 4).
This nationally representative face-to-face survey was conducted from September 5 to 23, 2024, with a sample of 1,729 adults aged 18 and older. The non-commissioned survey has a margin of error of ± 2% at a 95% confidence level. At the subnational level, the margin of error is ± 6% for the National Capital Region, ± 5% for North and Central Luzon, ± 5% for South Luzon, ± 6% for Visayas, and ± 5% for Mindanao, all at the same 95% confidence level.
The findings are part of the WR Numero Philippine Public Opinion Monitor on Oct. 15, 2024, at bit.ly/WRN-PPOM3.
The Volume 2, Issue 2 public brief highlights Filipino public opinion on major national issues, including the rift between President Marcos Jr. and Vice President Duterte, controversies over Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO), and the arrest of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. It also covers public sentiment on global matters like West Philippine Sea tensions, the 2024 US elections, and the Israel-Hamas war in the occupied territories of Palestine. The brief includes September 2024 performance ratings for the Senate, House, and Supreme Court, as well as early preferences for the 2028 presidential and vice-presidential elections.
