ALLIES of President Benigno Aquino III were not bothered by the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that showed a slump in his public satisfaction rating due to the Mamasapano debacle.
Speaker of the House Feliciano Belmonte shakes hands with President Benigno S. Aquino III after his 5th State of the Nation Address during the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representative in Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City while Senate Franklin Drilon looks on. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
“I’m sure it can be reversed… He needs new initiative perhaps in the area of the economy towards inclusive growth,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Liberal Party vice chair, said in a text message Monday.
The survey, conducted on March 20 to 23, said Aquino obtained a net satisfaction rating of a moderate +11 from good +39 from December 2014.
Public satisfaction on the administration dropped 35 points from +47 rating it obtained from the same period last year.
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. blamed the media for their negative coverage of the Jan. 25 Mamasapano operational disaster.
“I think the critics of the Aquino administration have exhausted all means to picture the President as bad and arrogant which is completely different from his true self as humble, down to earth, yet determined to implement reforms…” another ally, Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice, said.
Meanwhile, the President’s harshest critics did not mince words in saying the operational disaster – that claimed the lives of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians – signaled the downfall of Aquino’s popularity.
Aquino drew flak for refusing to apologize for the debacle. He heaped all the blame on sacked SAF commander Getulio Napenas for the lapses in the execution of the highly top-secret “Oplan Exodus.”
“Oplan Exodus” was a SAF operation that hunted and killed Marwan but ended in a gun battle between the police commandos and guerrillas from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the MILF.
Aquino gave the go-signal for the mission after this was presented by Napeñas on Jan. 9 at Malacañang and he allowed then suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima to take part in the execution of Oplan Exodus despite his suspension.
While the President has claimed responsibility, Aquino however has asked the public for understanding.
“This is glaring proof that President Aquino is steadily being isolated from the people especially because of the Mamasapano incident. I think that this is just the start of the spiraling ratings of the President,” Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares.
“Expected talaga na babagsak yan. Mabigat ang mga kasalanan niya. Dismayado na ang mga mamamayan sa patong patong na kasinungalingan ni Pnoy… Umiilag siya at naghuhugas kamay,” added Gabriela Representative Luz Ilagan. AC