Binay rating hits record low–SWS

MANILA, Philippines–The drop to a new record low of public satisfaction with the performance of Vice President Jejomar Binay was an indication of the people’s skepticism over his response to corruption charges, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said on Monday.

“The people are sending the message that they doubt his explanation, or lack of explanation, and are losing their trust in him,” Trillanes told reporters in a phone-patch interview.

Though still considered “very good,” Binay’s net satisfaction rating plunged 15 points to 52 last month from 67 in June, results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

Still, the latest SWS survey showed 70 percent of the respondents were satisfied with the Vice President’s performance—the highest rating among the top officials in the poll.

Only 17 percent were dissatisfied despite the controversies hounding the Vice President.

The survey was conducted from Sept. 26 to 29 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide. It had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points. Results of the survey were first reported in BusinessWorld.

The Vice President has been accused of taking kickbacks from infrastructure projects in Makati City when he was its mayor, and of owning a P1.2-billion high-end farm in Batangas province.

He has skipped an invitation to appear at the Senate hearing on the allegedly overpriced P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II, where his erstwhile political allies aired the corruption charges, and let his spokespersons do the talking.

The Vice President has denied any wrongdoing.

Outperforming the rest

Despite the drop in his ratings, Binay was “happy and thankful,” Binay’s political spokesman, Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, said in a statement.

“The numbers are surprising. Despite the toxic atmosphere brought about by the kangaroo court of the Senate and incessant attacks by political detractors, he still outperforms the rest in the field,” Remulla said.

“It really goes to show that it’s hard to put a good man down,” he added.

Demolition job

Remulla was referring to what the Binay camp claimed as a demolition job against the Vice President who was being accused of corruption during the time he served as mayor of Makati City.

Remulla said the big satisfaction rating of Binay would make him “even more committed to bring the issues directly to the people and perform his duties.”

SWS considers a rating of 70 and above “excellent”; 50 to 69, “very good”; 30 to 49, “good”; 10 to 29, “moderate,” 9 to negative 9, “neutral”; negative 10 to negative 29, “poor”; negative 30 to negative 49, “bad”; negative 50 to negative 69, “very bad”; and negative 70 and below, “execrable.”

In the 17 surveys since September 2010, Binay had posted eight “excellent” and nine “very good” ratings. His best record was a 76 in June 2013 and August 2012 while his previous record low was 57 in November 2010.

Very telling

Trillanes said the steep drop in Binay’s rating was “very telling,” and expressed the hope the free fall would continue. “I hope that continues because he’s a totally different person,” he said.

But the senator maintained that the Senate hearings were not designed to pull down Binay’s ratings, but to get to the truth of the anomalies in Makati in aid of legislation.

“That should open the eyes of the public about who VP Binay really is,” Trillanes said on the prospect of Binay declining a second invitation to attend the hearing.

Trillanes, who sought the hearing on the controversial parking building along with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, dismissed claims by the Binay camp that the Liberal Party (LP) had hatched a black propaganda plot against the Vice President.

“Speculations and conspiracy theories of that nature have been coming out. Instead of fanning these, they should face the issue. Are the charges true? … If he can’t answer these truthfully, then he should accept the people’s verdict,” he said.

Absurd

Trillanes said he and Cayetano were members of the Nacionalista Party, hence, it was “absurd” to claim that they were conspiring with the LP to demolish the Vice President.

“If you ask me, I will insist on bringing the issue to the fore, which is corruption at the Makati City Hall, and the ill-gotten wealth of Binay. I will bring the issue there. We won’t let them get away here,” he said.

Sen. Ralph Recto, an LP member, said he was not aware of any party-instigated demolition plan against Binay.

“I wouldn’t know any of that. I’m part of the LP. I’m not part of any of that. That’s for sure,” he told reporters.

Going up

While Binay’s rating has declined, those of other high-ranking government officials and top state institutions have improved.

Also, results on the presidential performance released last week showed that President Aquino’s net satisfaction rating recovered from a record low “moderate” plus 25 in June to “good” plus 34 in the third quarter.

Senate President Franklin Drilon scored a “good” 36 net satisfaction rating (58 percent satisfied minus 23 percent dissatisfied, rounded off) in September, up from a “moderate” 20 (50 percent minus 30 percent) in the second quarter.

Speaker Sonny Belmonte’s rating improved 11 points from “neutral” 2 (34 percent satisfied minus 32 percent dissatisfied) in June to “moderate” 13 (40 percent satisfied minus 27 percent dissatisfied) in September.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s net satisfaction rating likewise increased from “neutral” 6 (36 percent satisfied minus 30 percent satisfied) to “moderate” 10 (37 percent satisfied minus 27 percent dissatisfied).

SWS also reported public satisfaction with the top four government institutions. Net ratings of the Cabinet, Senate, House of Representatives and Supreme Court increased by 11 points, 16 points, 8 points and 2 points, respectively.

The Cabinet’s net satisfaction rating in September was a “moderate” 18 (43 percent satisfied minus 26 percent dissatisfied, rounded off), up from “neutral” 7 (39 percent satisfied minus 32 percent dissatisfied) in June.

The Senate’s net satisfaction rating was still considered “moderate” but improved from 12 (46 percent satisfied minus 34 percent dissatisfied) in June to 28 (53 percent satisfied minus 26 percent dissatisfied, rounded off) in September.

Net satisfaction with the House of Representatives was still “moderate” but up from 13 (44 percent satisfied minus 31 percent dissatisfied) to 21 (45 percent satisfied minus 24 percent dissatisfied).

The Supreme Court’s rating of 32 (54 percent satisfied minus 22 percent dissatisfied) in September was still “good” but slightly up from 30 (55 percent satisfied minus 25 percent dissatisfied) in June.–With reports from Christine O. Avendaño and Inquirer Research

 

RELATED STORIES

Binay satisfaction rating plunges to record low—SWS

Amid ratings decline, Binay camp insists ‘it’s hard to put a good man down’