Noy most trusted official as Binay ratings plunge

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is now the most trusted government official, dislodging Vice President Jejomar Binay, whose approval and trust ratings plunged by some 20 percentage points in Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan survey conducted last month.

Filipinos who expressed satisfaction with Binay dropped by 21 points to 45 percent from 66 percent in September, based on the results of the survey taken from Nov. 14 to 20.

The Vice President’s trust rating also fell by 20 points from 64 percent to 44 percent.

Binay is under fire over allegations of corruption during his term as Makati City mayor.

Among top government officials, only President Aquino scored majority approval and trust ratings in the survey, receiving scores of 59 percent (from 55 percent) and 56 percent (from 54 percent), respectively.

The other top officials of the land also experienced improvements in their approval and trust ratings.

Senate President Franklin Drilon’s approval rating rose to 47 percent from 39 percent previously, while his trust rating jumped from 37 percent to 42 percent.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. recorded a four-point increase both in his approval and trust ratings to 34 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno likewise obtained a four-point rise in her approval rating to 37 percent from 33 percent, while her trust rating rose by three points to 33 percent.

Between September and November 2014, only Binay and Drilon registered notable movements in their performance and trust ratings, according to Pulse Asia.

Binay experienced significant decline in his approval and trust ratings in the rest of Luzon (both at -28 percentage points), Mindanao (-26 and -22 percentage points, respectively), Class D (-21 and -19 percentage points, respectively) and Class E (-25 and -26 percentage points, respectively).

Consequently, the Vice President’s disapproval and distrust ratings worsened in the rest of Luzon (14 and 19 percentage points, respectively), Class D (13 and 16 percentage points, respectively) and Class E (16 and 14 percentage points, respectively).

Binay’s disapproval ratings also increased among the respondents in the Visayas and Mindanao with 13 and 14 percentage points, respectively.

Also, indecision as regards vice-presidential performance became more marked in the rest of Luzon (13 percentage points).

In contrast, Drilon gained the approval and trust of more Visayans (19 and 17 percentage points, respectively).

Binay’s rating in Pulse Asia’s latest presidential survey, released earlier this week, also dipped to 26 percent from 31 percent in September.

Unchanged ratings

The overall performance and trust ratings of the three key government institutions hardly changed between September and November 2014, Pulse Asia said.

The Supreme Court is the only key government institution to score a majority approval rating, the pollster said.

The high court obtained approval and trust scores of 51 percent (from 48 percent) and 41 percent (from 44 percent), respectively.

Satisfaction with the Senate improved by two points to 42 percent while its trust rating dropped by one point to 37 percent.

The House of Representatives’ approval rating remained at 38 percent while its trust rating fell by two points to 34 percent.

“As far as their performance ratings are concerned, Pulse Asia said the only marked movements at this time is the 13-percentage point increase in the approval rating of the Lower House among Visayans and the 14-percentage point decline in the level of indecision as regards the Supreme Court’s performance among those in the rest of Luzon,” Pulse Asia said.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 representative adults.

Still grateful

Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesman for media affairs, yesterday said the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey will not distract the Vice President from doing his job.

“He is thankful for the continued trust and support of the people despite the campaign of lies being waged by his political detractors in the Senate and media,” Salgado said in a statement. “No amount of mudslinging will distract the Vice President from assisting our overseas Filipino workers, providing decent and affordable housing for all, and improving the quality of life of Filipinos.”

On Thursday, Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes said Binay does not own any agricultural land on record.

The Vice President is accused of owning a 350-hectare farm in Rosario, Batangas through a dummy.

Asked by ABS-CBN whether Binay owns the property, Delos Reyes said “On paper, no.”

Delos Reyes said the property is registered under Sunchamp, a company owned by businessman Antonio Tiu, whom Binay’s detractors refer to as his dummy.

Renewed confidence

Malacañang, on the other hand, yesterday said the increase in the latest approval and trust ratings of President Aquino in the November 2014 Pulse Asia survey only shows the public’s renewed trust in him and his tuwid na daan (straight path) policy.

“From ensuring the inclusivity of growth to coordinating disaster relief and response efforts, the Aquino administration has taken great strides in safeguarding the well-being of our people,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

He said the good governance policy of the national government “has translated into concrete benefits, as signified by increased employment opportunities and successive credit rating upgrades.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who ranked third in the Pulse Asia survey on voter preferences for the 2016 presidential elections released earlier, said she is not at all bothered by the results.–  With Delon Porcalla, Marvin Sy