Aquino no ‘lame duck’ as ratings rise

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Malacañang said on Friday that the latest public satisfaction rating that had President Benigno Aquino III recovering from an all-time low in March only showed he was no lame-duck President.

In fact, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, Mr. Aquino’s high ratings could benefit any candidate he would endorse.

READ: Aquino satisfaction rating improves after all-time low – SWS

“Many pundits have predicted that with the previous survey numbers that he is a lame duck. This quarter’s survey numbers prove otherwise,” Lacierda said in a text message.

The President’s net satisfaction ratings recovered in June after plunging to a record low the previous quarter, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

SWS found that 57 percent of respondents were satisfied with Mr. Aquino while 27 percent were dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction rating (satisfied minus dissatisfied) of a “good” +30.

Lacierda said that with the survey results, Mr. Aquino “will continue to play front and center in the 2016 elections.”

“If you are speaking of his endorsement, then his high numbers will certainly bode well for the candidate the President will endorse,” he said.

Mr. Aquino has not named his preferred successor but has said Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is his top choice among possible candidates.

In March, Mr. Aquino’s satisfaction rating was 45 percent, his lowest since he took office. The drop was attributed to the Mamasapano debacle in January.

READ: 20 senators sign report holding Aquino responsible for Mamasapano

Edmund Tayao, a political science professor at the University of Santo Tomas, said Mr. Aquino improved his net score after getting significant support from the international community on the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China.

With only a year left of his term, Mr. Aquino should push for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the freedom of information bill and the Fair Competition Act as these promote public interest, Tayao said.

“The public rates the popularity of the President based on what they see as accomplishments [of] the government,” he said.

‘Poor handling’

The latest score is 19 points higher compared to the record low +11 rating (47 percent satisfied and 36 percent dissatisfied) in March, which SWS rated as “moderate.”

Analysts attributed the sharp decline in Mr. Aquino’s March ratings to his “poor handling” of the antiterrorism operation that resulted in a clash between the Special Action Force commandos and Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province.

The Jan. 25 encounter left 44 policemen, 17 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and three civilians dead.

SWS asked respondents: “Please tell me how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with the performance of Benigno Aquino III as President of the Philippines. Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, undecided if satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied [or] very dissatisfied?”

SWS noted that the President got “very good” +60 ratings three months into his administration and reached a record high of “very good” +67 in August 2012.

In the 19 quarterly surveys SWS conducted before June, Mr. Aquino’s net scores were under +50 only 10 times, it said.