Bishop hits Aquino’s ‘lame-duck leadership’

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo: The President is too distracted by Mamasapano at the expense of other equally important concerns. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–President Aquino seems to be too distracted by the Mamasapano incident at the expense of other equally important concerns he has to attend to before his term ends in June 2016, according to Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo.

“He is acting less like a leader as the end of his term in office nears,” Pabillo said, noting that the country’s Chief Executive has become fixated on the Mamasapano massacre to even care about his other duties.

“His is a lame-duck leadership. He is losing influence … Filipinos no longer believe him,” the prelate said in a post on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

Pabillo made this comment after the release of a survey, which shows President Aquino’s popularity hitting a record low due to the massacre of 44 police commandos on Jan. 25 in Maguindanao province.

The Pulse Asia poll reveals that from 59 percent in November 2014, the President’s approval rating nosedived to 38 percent this March, or almost two months after the bloody “encounter” at Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The same survey adds Aquino’s trust ratings is down to 36 percent this month compared to 56 percent last November.

Pabillo, who also chairs the CBCP permanent committee on public affairs, likewise expressed disappointment that until now Aquino has yet to name the people who will take over the reins of some government agencies, including the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections.–Tina G. Santos

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