Binay approval, trust ratings tank anew

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The approval and trust ratings of Vice President and presidential aspirant Jejomar Binay tanked anew in the lead-up to the October deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Binay, who used to be the country’s most trusted and appreciated public official, saw an 18-percentage point drop in his trust ratings – 39% in September from 57% in June, based on the results of the Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated survey conducted from September 8 to 14.

His performance rating fell to 43% in September, a 15-percentage point decline from his 58% rating in June.  The Vice President used to enjoy performance ratings of up to 87%.

In Pulse Asia’s June survey, Binay bounced back as the most trusted and most appreciated public official from among the country’s top 5 national leaders, which includes President Benigno Aquino III, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

In the latest Pulse survey released on Thursday, October 1, the Vice President is ranked third – after President Benigno Aquino III who topped the poll, and Senate President Franklin Drilon. (READ: Aquino is most trusted, appreciated gov’t official – Pulse Asia)

This is Binay’s lowest ranking, so far, in the poll on the country’s top 5 national leaders.

‘Significant’ drop

Pulse Asia noted as among the “significant changes” in the survey results the decline in the trust rating of Vice President Binay (-18 percentage points) and the rise in his distrust and indecision scores (+8 and +9 percentage points, respectively).”

The  trust and approval ratings of the other leaders included in the poll were statistically unchanged from the last survey period.

Since the last to the latest survey period, or from June 6 to September 7, Binay delivered his so-called “True State of the Nation Address” or TSONA. He deemed the “Tuwid na Daan” (Straight Path) campaign of Aquino a “failure” because of the increase in the number of poor, hungry, and jobless Filipinos.

It was an anticipated attack against the administration after Binay resigned from his Cabinet post, apparently in preparation for his bid as opposition standard-bearer in 2016. Binay previously sought the endorsement of Aquino, who eventually endorsed partymate Manuel Roxas II.

During the period, the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee continued its probe  on his alleged corrupt activities while he was mayor of Makati City. On August 26, 11 individuals were ordered arrested for failure to attend the Senate hearings. 

Binay’s latest poll numbers are reflected in his recent numbers in the presidential preference polls, where the former front runner has been overtaken by Senator Grace Poe even before she officially declared her intention to seek the post.

The Pulse survey has 2,400 respondents and an error margin of 2%.

Binay: I no longer have a job 

Binay asked what questions were used in the survey.  

“Kasi kung performance, ang ibig sabihin noon ay ano ba ang nagawa ko sa aking pagiging Vice President? Kung iyon ang tanong, sasabihin ko, mali naman po yata ang pagkakatanong ninyo. Kasi paano ninyo ako hahanapan ng trabaho? Wala na akong trabaho,” he said on Thursday. 

(If it’s performance, that means what did I do as Vice President? If that is the question, I will say the question is wrong because how can you ask me about my job? I no longer have a job.) 

Binay was referring to his resignation as housing czar and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns. 

He also resigned as chairman emeritus of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and head of the Presidential Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment.

The Vice President said he is no longer head of shelter agencies, and should not be judged for not doing any more work.

The survey, however, does not only gauge public approval of the performance of the country’s top 5 leaders, but also their trust in him. The Vice President’s approval and trust ratings both plunged in the latest poll. – with reports from Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com