A strong majority of Filipinos continue to express trust and satisfaction in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), according to the latest survey conducted by OCTA Research.
Results of the March 19 to 25 nationwide poll released Tuesday showed that 72 percent of Filipinos trust the AFP, while only 11 percent said they distrust the military institution, giving the Armed Forces a net trust rating of +61.
The survey, commissioned by the AFP, interviewed 1,200 adult respondents nationwide and carried a margin of error of ±3 percent.
Apart from trust ratings, the military also received favorable marks in performance assessment, with 70 percent of respondents saying they were satisfied with the AFP’s performance. Fourteen percent expressed dissatisfaction, resulting in a net performance rating of +56.
The survey showed the AFP enjoying its highest trust levels in the Visayas at 75 percent, followed by the National Capital Region at 73 percent, Luzon at 71 percent, and Mindanao at 70 percent.
Distrust toward the military was highest in Mindanao at 12 percent, though the figure remained relatively low nationwide.
Across socioeconomic classes, trust in the AFP was strongest among Class E respondents at 77 percent, followed by Class D at 72 percent and Class ABC at 69 percent.
The survey also found stronger confidence in the military among rural residents, where 76 percent said they trust the AFP, compared to 66 percent among urban respondents.
Men registered higher trust levels at 76 percent, while women posted a still-majority 67 percent trust rating.
By age group, Filipinos aged 65 to 74 posted the highest trust level at 80 percent, followed closely by respondents aged 18 to 24 at 78 percent.
In terms of educational attainment, trust was highest among respondents with no formal education or only elementary education at 80 percent.
Satisfaction ratings followed similar patterns across regions and demographics, with the Visayas recording the highest approval of AFP performance at 73 percent.
Rural respondents likewise gave higher satisfaction ratings than urban residents, while senior citizens and younger adults emerged among the most satisfied age groups.
The AFP has consistently maintained high public approval ratings in recent years amid its continuing roles in territorial defense, disaster response, counterinsurgency operations, and humanitarian missions nationwide.