Binay still most trusted top gov’t official, says Pulse Asia

Vice President Jejomar Binay . INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Vice President Jejomar Binay remains the most trusted among the top officials in government, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

More than eight in 10 Filipinos, or 86 percent, expressed their trust in Binay, up from 81 percent in the previous quarter, said the survey, conducted from August 20 to September 2.

Binay also got an overall approval rating of 85 percent, up from 83 percent in May.

President Aquino’s trust and approval ratings were 77 percent and 75 percent respectively, up from the May figure of 71 percent for both categories.

The nationwide survey was conducted during a period when the overpriced helicopter purchase scandal and alleged electoral fraud during the previous Arroyo administration were the main issues preoccupying the Senate and Malacañang.

The noncommissioned survey, released Tuesday, was based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults from all over the country and had an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The approval and trust ratings of other top officials also increased. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile scored an approval rating of 65 percent, up from 57 percent in May. His trust rating also zoomed to 59 percent from the previous 49 percent.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. got an approval rating of 45 percent (from 39 percent in May) and a trust rating of 41 percent (from 33 percent).

Chief Justice Renato Corona obtained an approval rating of 37 percent (from 28 percent) and a trust rating of 31 percent (from 23 percent).

The majority across geographic areas and socio-economic classes expressed approval in the performance of President Aquino (68 percent to 86 percent), Binay (78 percent to 90 percent) and Enrile (59 percent to 72 percent)

The three highest officials also enjoyed “good” trust ratings in all geographic areas and socioeconomic classes: 64 percent to 82 percent for the President; 76 percent to 91 percent for the Vice President; and 50 percent to 70 percent for the Senate President.

Meanwhile, Belmonte posted majority approval ratings in class ABC (51 percent) and Metro Manila (57 percent), while his trust and indecision ratings are close at 41 percent and 43 percent, respectively.

Corona, on the other hand, failed to score majority approval rating in any subgroup, while ambivalence toward his trustworthiness was the plurality sentiment (45 percent).

Still, Corona with Enrile enjoyed significant gains in approval ratings at the national level: Corona gained 9 percentage points while Enrile gained 8 percentage points.

Majority of Filipinos also expressed approval in the performance of the Senate (55 percent from 43 percent in May) and Supreme Court (55 percent from 39 percent). The House of Representatives gained an approval rating of 48 percent from the previous 41 percent.

Most Filipinos also expressed trust in the Senate (53 percent from 41 percent) and the Supreme Court (54 percent from 38 percent), while a “near-majority” expressed the same sentiment toward the House of Representatives (47 percent from 36 percent). Inquirer Research