Military gets 75% trust rating in OCTA survey

THE latest OCTA Research found that 75 percent of adult Filipinos trusted the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the last quarter of 2024. On Sunday, OCTA reported the results of its survey conducted on Nov. 10-16, 2024. The survey had 1,200 respondents. It said only 2 percent had expressed distrust, "resulting in a net trust rating of +73." The AFP's net trust rating ranged from +66 to +88 across major regions, with the highest in the Visayas and the lowest in Balance Luzon. In terms of socioeconomic classes, the AFP had its highest net trust rating among Class E respondents (+82). OCTA noted that AFP's trust rating had been dropping since December 2023. The military's net trust rating was +79 in December 2023, with 81 percent saying they trusted the AFP. The rating slid to +77 in June 2024, with 80 percent saying they trusted it. In the last quarter of 2024, the military's net trust rating ranged from +40 to +100. The AFP received its highest net trust rating in the Cordillera Administrative Region, closely followed by the Negros Island Region (+99), Zamboanga Peninsula (+97), and Bicol Region (+95). The lowest rating was in Cagayan Valley. The percentage of distrust was highest in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). OCTA said 13 percent of BARMM respondents said they "somewhat distrust" the military. The AFP's net trust rating ranged from +67 to +82 across age groups. It was highest among adult Filipinos ages 75 and above and lowest among those ages 18 to 24. The AFP's net trust rating was "higher among adult Filipinos in rural areas (+82) than those in urban areas (+67)." The AFP's net trust rating was "higher among males (+78) than females (+68)." The military had its highest rating among respondents without formal education or with only an elementary education. The lowest rating came from respondents with a high school education. The survey found that 76 percent of the respondents were "satisfied with the overall accomplishments of the" AFP. Two percent was dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction rating of +74. The AFP's satisfaction rating was "consistently high" across major areas, "with at least +75 in most areas except for Balance Luzon (+67)." The ratings showed "no major differences across socioeconomic classes," OCTA said. It added that the AFP's satisfaction rating had "remained steady at +74 since June 2024." By major areas, the satisfaction rating rose by 20 points in the National Capital Region, or Metro Manila, and dropped by 9 points in Mindanao and 7 points in Balance Luzon. The AFP's satisfaction rating rose 11 points among respondents in the ABC bracket. Respondents in the Cordillera Administrative Region were "satisfied with the AFP based on its overall accomplishments." This was followed by Caraga (+96), Bicol (+94), Negros Island Region (+94), Zamboanga Peninsula (+93), and Davao Region (+91). The AFP's satisfaction rating was lowest in Cagayan Valley (+59) and Central Luzon (+58). Respondents dissatisfied with the AFP in terms of overall accomplishments were "notably higher in BARMM (12 percent) than in other regions." The AFP's satisfaction rating ranged from +63 to +79 across age groups, with the highest rating among those ages 55 to 64 and the lowest net satisfaction rating among those ages 18 to 24. Respondents in rural areas gave AFP a higher net satisfaction rating at +80, compared to those in urban areas at +69. Males had a higher net satisfaction rating for the AFP at +79 compared to females at +69. In terms of education, adult Filipinos with no formal education or finished elementary education expressed the highest net satisfaction rating for the AFP at +84," OCTA said. The survey had a margin of error of ±3 percent and a confidence level of 95 percent.