Corona rating worsens, Enrile gets record high – SWS

MANILA, Philippines – Public satisfaction with Chief Justice Renato Corona worsened in the middle of his impeachment trial. 

A Social Weather Stations survey showed that Corona’s net satisfaction rating worsened to -28 from -14 three months ago. SWS classified both numbers as “poor.” 

The survey was conducted from March 10 to 13, as Corona’s lawyers were just about to present witnesses and evidence. Results of the survey were published in the Business World on Wednesday, April 11.

Corona got the lowest public satisfaction ratings among the top government officials. The Chief Justice had a rating of 22% satisfied and 51% dissatisfied.

Vice President Jejomar Binay ranked first, followed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, President Benigno Aquino III, and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

SWS surveyed 1,200 respondents nationwide.

Enrile, Belmonte set personal record

Binay maintains his standing as the highest favored official. Binay retained his “excellent” net satisfaction rating of +70, just four points down his highest record of +74 in March 2011. 

SWS found that 79% of respondents were satisfied with Binay while 9% were dissatisfied.

While Binay retains his lead, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was the survey’s biggest gainer.

Enrile leaped 20 points. He got a “very good” net rating of 56, a record-high for the Senate chief.

Fifty-three percent were satisfied with Enrile while 17% were dissatisfied. 

Enrile’s net rating improved from a “good” score of 36 in December 2011. His past best record stood at 41 back in June 2010.

Aquino trailed Binay and Enrile. SWS said his net rating slipped to a “good” of 49 from a “very good” of 58 in December 2011. 

In the March 2012 survey, 68% were satisfied with the chief executive while 19% were dissatisfied.

Like Enrile, Belmonte also got a personal best score in the March survey. 

Belmonte’s net satisfaction rating improved to a “moderate” of 18, a 10-point increase from his “neutral” score of 8 in December. In the latest survey, 39% were satisfied with the Speaker while 27% were dissatisfied.

SWS said this was a record for Belmonte whose previous best rating was 17 in March 2011.

Impeachment factor?

The SWS survey seemed to reflect the findings of a Pulse Asia survey conducted from February 26 to March 9.

In the Pulse Asia survey, Corona also registered the steepest decline while Enrile posted the biggest improvement. 

Pulse Asia President Ronald Holmes admitted that the impeachment trial was a factor in the survey results. He attributed the increase in Enrile’s score to his performance as the presiding officer in the impeachment trial.

In response, Enrile welcomed the survey news but said he was only doing his job. The Senate President said he no longer cares about popularity.

Corona’s lawyers, though, brushed aside the survey results. The defense team said what matters is what is being presented in the trial and to prove the innocence of the Chief Justice in court. – Rappler.com