Mamasapano sinks Aquino rating

“It simply means that most Filipinos would rather wait for the elections rather than give power to someone else. Had the Mamasapano debacle happened in 2013, then the call to resign would take a different direction,” De Vera said.

Net satisfaction ratings of the President hit record lows in all geographic areas.

The largest decrease was in Luzon outside Metro Manila, down 42 points from 39 to -3. In the Visayas, it fell 12 points from 42 to 30. It was downgraded in Mindanao, from 46 to 25 and in Metro Manila, from 23 to 7.

By locale, net scores dropped in urban areas by 34 points, from 37 to 3. It fell 18 points in rural areas and slid from 41 to 23.

The President’s net rating also dropped in all socioeconomic classes. It was down by 43 points among Class ABC, from 49 to 6, by 27 points among Class E, from 45 to 18 and by 27 points among Class D, from 37 to 10.

Net satisfaction among those who opposed calls for Mr. Aquino’s resignation was 31 while it was -19 among those in favor.

Glass half full

Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. preferred to look at the survey as a glass half full.

“While there has been a decline in the President’s satisfaction rating (down to 47 percent from 63 percent), it is evident that a higher number of Filipinos (50 percent who oppose his resignation; and 47 percent who expressed satisfaction) affirm their belief in his leadership and outnumber those who are dissatisfied (37 percent) or prefer that he resign from office (32 percent),” Coloma said in a statement.

Coloma said the “significant segment” that remained undecided on the President’s performance (16 percent) and about his resignation (18 percent) “represents an opportunity for reaching out to those who are undecided or ambivalent in their sentiments toward the President and the administration and eventually winning them over.”

READ: Palace: Filipinos still believe in Aquino despite plunging satisfaction rating

Coloma also noted that the SWS survey showed more people approving of the President three weeks after the Pulse Asia survey taken from March 1 to 7 showed a lower satisfaction rating at 38 percent.

“It is possible that, having gathered more information about current events and having been able to know and understand better the President’s position on the Mamasapano incident, the people gave the President a higher satisfaction rating in the SWS survey than the performance approval rating that he obtained in the Pulse Asia survey,” Coloma said.

There are only 15 months left in the Aquino administration.

“We will continue to stay focused on priority programs, such as infrastructure development, employment generation and poverty reduction, and improved social protection. Transparent and responsive governance along the righteous path will be pursued, so that public institutions may be strengthened, the transformation process sustained, and that the concrete gains achieved will become permanent,” Coloma said.

RELATED STORIES

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

Senate draft report: Aquino ‘ultimately responsible’ for Mamasapano mission