Llamas disowns survey showing lower approval rating for Noy

MANILA, Philippines - A Malacañang official yesterday disowned a survey commissioned by the Office of Political Affairs this month showing President Aquino’s approval rating down to 35 percent amid the pork barrel fund mess.

“I strongly and categorically deny that there was any survey commissioned by my office concerning the President’s approval rating or any other public official for that matter,” Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas said in a statement.

“As far as my office is concerned, the results of the recent surveys conducted by the country’s top two polling opinion bodies are enough to measure the people’s continued trust and support to President Aquino,” Llamas, who is still in Europe, said.

In the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia surveys conducted last September, Aquino’s net satisfaction ratings remained high at 49 percent and 79 percent, respectively.

In a text message to this writer, Llamas said his office “does not have a budget to conduct surveys.”

Noy not fixated on surveys

President Aquino is not fixated on popularity surveys and approval ratings, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma said yesterday.

“He had said repeatedly that he will do what is right regardless of the numbers,” Coloma, who is now the lead spokesman for Aquino, said.

 â€œThe bottom line is that Aquino will perform his mandate and do what is right,” he added.

The STAR reported earlier that a Palace survey showed that Aquino’s rating dropped by 35 percent because of the pork barrel issue.

The survey had 1,000 respondents. Coloma, however, said he was not aware of such survey.

“Whoever conducts the survey, if it is a credible survey and if it is a survey that allows us to appreciate better what needs to be done to improve the quality of public service, then that is what will be done by this government,” he said.