Pulse Asia: Aquino, Binay still enjoy approval of many Filipinos but…

President Benigno Aquino III and Vice-President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay continue to enjoy the approval of majority of Filipinos in the second half of January this year, but ratings were lower in comparison to the November poll last year, the latest survey from Pulse Asia said on Tuesday.

Some 66 percent of Filipinos approved of the President and Binay himself received an approval rating of 69 percent, according to the January 2013 Pre-Election national survey.

The nationwide survey, conducted from January 19 to 30 with a sample of 1,800 registered voters and a ± 2% error margin at the 95 percent confidence level, also showed an appreciation for the performance of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at 46 percent.

Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following error margins at 95 percent confidence level: ± 7 percent for Metro Manila, ±3 percent for the rest of Luzon and ±5 percent for each of Visayas and Mindanao.

Changes in Aquino approval rating

This assessment differed from November last year to January 2012, said Pulse Asia, pointing out a decrease in Aquino’s overall approval rating from 78 percent down back in November 2012 to January’s 66 percent score.

Aquino’s performance was scored with a disapproval rating of six percent while the Vice President earned a disapproval rating of five percent.

A fourth of the public was however undecided whether they approved of the three government officials’ work so far with 28 percent undecided on their rating for Aquino, 25 percent undecided for Binay, and 37 percent undecided for Enrile.

Indecision on ratings on their performances increased, the survey said.

Filipinos critical of Enrile, Belmonte, Sereno

Pulse Asia also noted that Filipinos were now critical of the performances of Enrile, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno who received disapproval ratings of 16 percent, 19 percent, and 18 percent, respectively.

The latest survey also showed a decline in the approval ratings for Belmonte (28 percent) and Sereno (24 percent).

There were still those who were undecided on their assessment on the performances of Belmonte (49 percent undecided) and Sereno (51 percent undecided).

But the most significant reduction noted was on the Senate President’s approval ratings, which affected his ratings across all areas and socio-economic groups.

The survey was conducted at the height of controversies in the Senate, which involved the cash gifts received by several senators from Enrile during Christmas as well as the affirmation of support for Enrile’s leadership in the higher chamber of Congress.

Changes in trust

Pulse Asia noted the decline in Filipinos’ trust rating for the Aquino and Binay despite the “sizeable majority trust ratings” they received (Aquino 68 percent and Binay 71 percent) in the latest survey.

Trust for the President declined between November 2012 and January 2013 by 12 percent.

Likewise, trust ratings for Binay and Enrile also dropped by 10 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

The perceived trustworthiness of both Belmonte and Sereno dropped by 12 percent each.

Distrust ratings for Aquino was at six percent while Binay’s was at five percent while a fourth expressed indecision on their trustworthiness (Aquino 26 percent and Binay 24 percent).

It also said that trust was the plurality sentiment when it came to the trustworthiness of Enrile (46 percent).

But distrust ratings for the lead Senate official was more pronounced at 15 percent, a case which was similar to the distrust scores for Belmonte (21 percent) and Sereno (20 percent).

Nearly four out of 10 Filipinos or 38 percent were unable to say if they trust Enrile while near majority were also unsure on the trustworthiness of Belmonte (48 percent) and Sereno (50 percent).

SC majority trust rating

Only the Supreme Court managed to obtain a majority trust rating of 53 percent.

The Senate only received a 48 percent trust rating while the House of Representatives only got 44 percent of the Filipinos trust.

The ratings for indecision on the said government institutions’ trustworthiness was similar to its trust ratings with 42 percent of Filipinos undecided on whether to trust the Senate, 44 percent undecided on the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, one out of 10 (from 9 to 11 percent) distrusts the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court.