Corona rating down to new low, says survey

Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER PHOTO

The net satisfaction rating of embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona has plummeted to a new low, according to a recent survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Results of the First Quarter 2012 Social Weather Survey showed that from a “poor” minus 14 net satisfaction in December, Corona’s rating dropped to a still “poor” minus 28, with 22 percent of respondents saying they were satisfied with his performance and 51 percent saying otherwise.

In the same survey, Vice President Jejomar Binay has maintained his “excellent” net satisfaction rating of plus 70, while both Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. have bested their personal records, obtaining a “very good” plus 56 and “moderate” plus 8 net ratings, respectively.

The SWS considers net satisfaction ratings of plus 70 and above as “excellent”; plus 50 to plus 69, “very good”; plus 30 to plus 49, “good”; plus 10 to plus 29, “moderate”; plus 9 to minus 9, “neutral”; minus 10 to minus 29, “poor”; minus 30 to minus 49, “bad”; minus 50 to minus 69, “very bad”; and minus 70 and below, “execrable.”

The survey, which covered 1,200 respondents nationwide, was conducted from March 10-13, when the Corona defense team was starting its presentation. The impeachment trial, which started on January 16 and adjourned on March 23 for a Lenten break, will resume on May 7.

Since his controversial appointment as Chief Justice in May 2010, Corona’s net satisfaction rating has not breached positive territory in earlier SWS surveys. Corona got his lowest rating of minus 18 in June 2010, while his highest net rating so far is zero, which he got in June and September last year.

On the other hand, Binay’s net satisfaction of plus 70 (79 percent satisfied, 9 percent dissatisfied), maintained the December rating, when 77 percent of respondents said they were satisfied, while 7 percent said otherwise. Binay posted his personal record high of plus 74 in March 2011.

Enrile moves up

Meanwhile, Enrile, who also acts as the presiding officer of the impeachment court, posted his record net rating of plus 56 (69 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied), which is 20 points higher than his December rating of plus 36 (53 percent satisfied, 17 percent dissatisfied). Enrile’s previous record was a “good” plus 43, which he obtained in March 2011.

Also besting his personal record was Belmonte, who obtained a net rating of plus 18 (39 percent satisfied, 21 percent dissatisfied), up 10 points from his December rating of plus 8 (33 percent satisfied, 25 percent dissatisfied). His previous record was plus 17, which he achieved in March 2011.

Public satisfaction also rose for the top four state institutions, with both the Senate and the House of Representatives breaking previous records.

The net satisfaction rating of the Senate rose 14 points from plus 44 (59 percent satisfied, 15 percent dissatisfied) in December to plus 58 (71 percent satisfied, 13 percent dissatisfied) in March. This is also a record for the institution, whose previous best was plus 51 in November 2010.

Satisfaction with the House of Representatives was up by 13 points from plus 27 (46 percent satisfied, 19 percent dissatisfied) in the previous quarter to a record plus 40 (56 percent satisfied, 16 percent dissatisfied). This rating surpassed the previous high of plus 33 in November 2010.  Inquirer Research