Disapproval rises for gov’t handling of peace, law enforcement

MANILA, Philippines – Public disapproval of the government’s handling of peace and law enforcement in the country went up more than a month after the botched Mamasapano operation, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

The poll, conducted from March 1 to 7 among 1,200 adults, showed that disapproval for both “enforcing the law on all” and “increasing peace in the country” went up by 8 percentage points, from 21 percent in November 2014 to 29 percent this March.

There was also a decrease in the ambivalence of indecision of Filipinos on law enforcement.

READ: Pulse Asia: Aquino trust, approval ratings at their lowest after Mamasapano 

The results came almost a week after another Pulse Asia survey showed that 79 percent of Filipinos were dissatisfied with the government’s explanation of the Mamasapano mission, which resulted in the deaths of 67 Filipinos, and President Benigno Aquino III’s decision to skip the arrival honors for the slain policemen.

READ: Skipping Villamor costly mistake for Aquino, survey shows

The recent poll, which focused on “urgent national concerns,” showed that the Aquino administration’s performance ratings on selected issues remained “largely unchanged.”

However, in addition to law enforcement and peace, the approval rating on initiatives to defend national territorial integrity declined by 7 percentage points (from 50 percent in November 2014 to 43 percent in March 2015).

Economic issues top list

Of the 12 issues included in the survey, those relating to the economy and poverty were deemed as “most urgent national concerns” by Filipinos.

Topping the list was controlling inflation (with 46 percent saying it is the most urgent concern), followed by improving the pay of workers (44 percent).

Amid the government’s anti-corruption drive, fighting graft and corruption in government was chosen as third most urgent concern (up by four percentage points, from 36 percent in November 2014 to 40 percent in March).

Rounding up the first half of the list were: reducing poverty of many Filipinos (37 percent), creating more jobs (34 percent), and fighting criminality (22 percent).

No majority approval

Pulse Asia said the administration failed to achieve a majority approval rating on any of the 12 issues.

“Near majority approval ratings” (at least 40 percent approval rating) were recorded on seven issues: responding to the needs of those affected by calamities (49 percent), stopping the destruction and abuse of our environment (48 percent), defending the integrity of Philippine territory (43 percent), fighting criminality (45 percent), enforcing the law on all (41 percent), increasing peace in the country (40 percent) and fighting graft and corruption in government (42 percent).

While disapproval was high for controlling inflation (41 percent disapproval) and reducing the poverty of many Filipinos (40 percent disapproval).

Originally posted as of 12:49 PM | Tuesday, March 24, 2015

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