Binay rating hits new record-low

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay's public satisfaction rating continued to decline as 2014 ended, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed on Monday.

Results of the fourth quarter SWS poll, which were first reported by Businessworld, revealed that Binay's net rating fell to a new record-low of a "good" +44 from a "very good" +52 score in the third quarter.

Binay, however, still obtained the highest rating among the four top national government officials who were included in the survey.

The ratings of Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. also dipped in the fourth quarter, while Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno's score barely changed.

Drilon's net public satisfaction rating declined to a "moderate" +28 from a "good" +36 while Belmonte's score remained at a "moderate" level, down from +13 to +11.

Sereno also maintained a "moderate" rating, from +11 to +10.

Public satisfaction with the three top government institutions also remained at a "moderate" level while the Aquino Cabinet plunged from a "moderate" +18 to a "neutral" +9.

The Senate's net rating went down from +28 to +26 while the House of Representatives's score barely, from +21 to +20. The Supreme Court's net rating fell from a "good" +32 to +26.

The SWS survey, which polled 1,800 adults nationwide, was conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 or weeks after Binay backed out of a scheduled debate with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in connection with the corruption allegations against him.

Binay's ratings have plunged after he and his family were accused of accumulating ill-gotten wealth through irregular government projects in Makati.