Class cleavage in presidential distrust?

We have all heard or read about President Marcos' trust and approval ratings. Surveys rise, surveys fall, and public discussion typically fixates on whether the numbers signal political momentum or decline. A less examined question, however, is why Filipinos distrust the president in the first place. The Pulse Asia survey conducted from February 27 to March 2, 2026, reveals that dissatisfaction is not uniform but is instead marked by a sharp class divide. For the poorest Filipinos in Class E, distrust is rooted in perceived neglect and broken promises. Their leading complaints are the president does not keep promises ["hindi tumutupad sa pangako"] (25.1%) and is remiss on his duties ["walang nagawa / hindi gumaganap ng kanyang tungkulin"] (20.6%). This implies poorer Filipinos are evaluating governance not through abstract economic indicators but through concrete, day-to-day experience. The grievance is not simply that life is hard, but that campaign expectations have not translated into visible reforms. The upper and middle class, on the other hand, see a different failure altogether. Among Classes ABC, distrust is dominated by concerns over corruption and impunity, driven in particular by the president's perceived failure to curb corruption ["hindi lumalaban sa korapsyon / walang napapanagot sa korapsyon"] (38%). No other issue appears to come close. This distinction is politically consequential. For the poor, the issue is delivery (keeping promises and doing the part). For the middle class, the issue is integrity (enforcing accountability). An administration that focuses only on anti-corruption crusades may fail to address the poor's demand for tangible results. Conversely, one that pours resources into welfare programs without confronting impunity may alienate the middle class. The data also challenge conventional assumptions. Economic hardship ("bagsak ang ekonomiya") barely registers across classes. Meanwhile, inaction on criminality and illegal drugs, though not the top driver for any group, nonetheless registers across all classes, 7.1% (ABC), 10.5% (D), and 11.9% (E). Recall that a tough-on-crime, anti-drugs platform was what catapulted Rodrigo Duterte to the presidency in 2016. The West Philippine Sea issue and the Duterte arrest, though creating political noise, remain socially marginal drivers of distrust. Overall, the data suggest is that it is not enough for the administration to rely on narrative alone. If it wants to win people's trust, it must pursue two tracks simultaneously. It needs visible anti-corruption enforcement to reassure the middle class that impunity will not be tolerated. It also needs targeted programs that deliver immediate everyday welfare for poorer households. Different classes are asking different questions of government, and both now require answers.