Robredo slams ‘fake news’ about reason behind SWS survey drop

Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo has vehemently denied that she blamed “unflattering photos” of her as the reason behind lower satisfaction ratings, saying it is just an attempt to mislead people.

“Not true, I never said this. Obviously fake news,” Robredo said in a tweet on Tuesday morning.

Not true, I never said this. Obviously fake news. Our trust ratings actually rose by 11%. A majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the work that we do in our office and we will continue to do the work needed to reach those in the margins. pic.twitter.com/1dX08spMDy

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) July 30, 2019

In her tweet, Robredo also attached two photos where detractors alleged that she and her supporters claim the photos used by media outlets were the cause of the satisfaction rating decline.

According to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, Robredo’s net satisfaction rating went down from +42 in March 2019 to +28 in June 2019.  This was due to high decreases in Balance Luzon (-13), Visayas (-21), and Mindanao (-18).

However, Robredo’s Spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez said that the appearance of a decline was because of the metrics the SWS used — arriving at a net score by factoring all those who were satisfied, dissatisfied, and unsure — compared to Pulse Asia’s method where satisfaction ratings are released as it is.

Gutierrez also said that if broken down, satisfaction ratings derived from SWS surveys are actually higher by two points than what Pulse Asia recorded — 57 percent compared to 55 percent.

READ: SWS: Robredo, Arroyo’s net satisfaction ratings dip; Sotto scores ‘very good’ 

READ: Robredo rating fall just appearance as math shows otherwise–spokesperson 

Robredo also said that her trust ratings increased 11 percent, although Pulse Asia’s survey posted in their website shows an increase of six percent.

“Our trust ratings actually rose by 11%. A majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the work that we do in our office and we will continue to do the work needed to reach those in the margins,” she claimed.

This is not the first time that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) or Robredo became the target of fake news. In 2018, Robredo vehemently denied being part of plans to remove President Rodrigo Duterte from office, dubbed as the “Red October Plot.”

Prior to that, she also denied having knowledge in a separate oust plot revealed by presidential son and now Deputy Speaker Rep. Paolo Duterte, where corporations have supposedly connived with OVP in efforts to oust the President.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in one instance said that this allegation was unverified and probably stemmed from ‘fake news.” /jpv

READ: Robredo not part of ouster plot — Roque 

READ: Lorenzana: Paolo Duterte’s list of ouster plotters is fake news