[UPDATED] MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos trust Chief Justice Renato Corona the least among the Philippines’ top 5 government officials, pollster Pulse Asia reported in a survey released Thursday, March 22.

Corona also registered the steepest decline in performance ratings while Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who presides over his impeachment trial, posted the biggest improvement.

In the survey conducted from February 26 to March 9, Pulse Asia found that only 11% of respondents trust Corona. Those who have minimal or no trust in Corona comprise 60% of respondents, while the undecided make up 29%.

Vice President Jejomar Binay enjoys most Filipinos’ trust at 80%.

President Benigno Aquino III, who has found himself at loggerheads with Corona, is the second most trusted top government official. Pulse Asia said 69% of respondents trust the President.

Enrile is the 3rd most trusted official at 63%. Following him is House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr, trusted by 32% of respondents.

On Tuesday, Pulse Asia released another set of survey results that said nearly half of those surveyed, or 47%, view Corona as guilty. The remaining 43% of respondents are undecided. 

Least appreciated, too

In terms of performance ratings, most Filipinos disapprove of Corona’s performance with only 14% giving him their approval.

Most respondents, or 84%, approve of Binay’s performance. Aquino trails Binay, with the President registering a 70% approval rating.

Enrile received 71% while Belmonte got 41%.

The biggest winner in the latest survey, if compared to Pulse Asia’s November 2011 performance ratings, is Enrile. The veteran politician, who has received his fellow senators’ admiration for handling Corona’s impeachment trial, enjoys an 11% improvement in his national approval score.

The most disadvantaged official is Corona, whose overall performance rating dropped by 24%.

Between November 2011 and March 2012, the overall performance ratings of Aquino, Binay, and Belmonte remained practically unchanged. – Rappler.com