Pulse Asia: More people trust VP Binay than Pres. Aquino

UPDATED 3:10 p.m. - A new survey by pollster Pulse Asia showed that more people trust Vice President Jejomar Binay than President Benigno Aquino III. Binay was the country's 'most appreciated and trusted' official, at least between February and March this year, Pulse Asia said. The survey, conducted Feb. 24 to March 6, showed Binay getting an 83 percent approval rating and an 81 percent trust rating. Aquino, on the other hand, received a 74 percent approval rating and 75 percent trust rating. Malacañang welcomed Binay's high ratings. "We're certainly happy with it because he's part of the administration. He's part of the team of the President so we're certainly happy for the vice president that his numbers are high and we welcome those numbers of the Vice President," said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda at a press briefing. In a statement issued on Thursday, Binay said, "I am very grateful for the people's support. This expression of optimism and confidence encourages me to work harder for our people." "In light of the many challenges that we are facing, I ask everyone to work together to face these challenges and help President Benigno Aquino III move the country forward," he added. "Most Filipinos express appreciation for the work done by President Benigno S. Aquino III (74%), Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay (83%) and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (60%)," Pulse Asia said. "These three national government officials also score majority trust ratings – President Aquino (75%), Vice-President Binay (81%) and Senate President Enrile (56%)," the pollster added. In a Pulse Asia survey conducted October 20 to 29 last year, Aquino received an approval rating of 79 percent, followed by Binay with 78 percent, and Enrile with 61 percent . Last year's Pulse Asia survey did not mention trust ratings. "Filipinos are least ambivalent toward the performance and trustworthiness of President Aquino (18% and 20%, respectively) and Vice President Binay (14% and 15%, respectively)," Pulse Asia said. The Pulse Asia survey fieldwork was conducted from February 24 to March 6, 2011 using face-to-face interviews. The nationwide survey was based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a ± 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Saving drug mules from execution Pulse Asia noted that when the most recent survey was taken, one of the issues was the government effort to save three Filipinos facing execution in China for drug trafficking. Binay's visit to China had prompted officials there to defer the execution of the three convicted drug mules. The three Filipinos — Ramon Credo, 42; Elizabeth Batain, 38; and Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, 32 — were originally scheduled to be executed last February 20 and 21. The executions were put on hold following the humanitarian visit to Beijing of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns. However, on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the three Filipinos will be executed on March 30. "The Fujian People’s Court and Guangdong High People’s Court have informed the Philippine consulates general in Xiamen and Guangzhou on the date of the carrying out of the death penalty in three Filipino nationals," DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said at a press briefing. “The Death penalty will be carried out on March 30." Other government officials In the latest Pulse Asia survey, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. received a 50-percent approval rating and a 43-percent trust rating. Around 39 percent cannot say if they trust or distrust him. Chief Justice Renato Corona, on the other hand, had a 43-percent approval rating and a 44-percent trust rating. The highest disapproval and distrust ratings are obtained by Corona (24% and 27%, respectively) while Aquino and Binay register single-digit disapproval ratings (7% and 3%, respectively) and distrust ratings (6% and 3%, respectively). Pulse Asia said public indecision was most pronounced toward the performance and trustworthiness of Belmonte (37% and 39%, respectively) and Corona (43% and 44%, respectively). Geographic areas Across geographic areas, practically all of the country’s leading national government officials (except Corona) enjoy majority approval ratings in Metro Manila (56% to 79%) and the rest of Luzon (52% to 82%). Meanwhile, Aquino, Binay and Enrile posted majority approval ratings in the Visayas (55% to 83%) and Mindanao (65% to 86%). On public trust, most of those in the rest of Luzon (55% to 80%), the Visayas (57% to 84%) and Mindanao (58% to 75%) express trust in Aquino, Binay and Enrile while these three officials and House Speaker Belmonte obtain majority trust ratings (52% to 78%) from Metro Manilans. Only Corona failed to secure a majority rating – both approval and trust – in any of the country’s geographic areas, Pulse Asia said. Socio-economic classes Majorities in all socio-economic classes approve of the work done by Aquino (69% to 80%), Binay (76% to 86%) and Enrile (58% to 61%). Belmonte also recorded majority approval ratings in Classes ABC and D (51% to 54%). Majority trust ratings are obtained by Aquino (71% to 78%), Binay (76% to 84%) and Enrile (56% to 57%) in all socio-economic groupings. "Again, Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona is unable to score any majority approval or trust rating across socio-economic classes," Pulse Asia said. Basically unchanged Between October and March 2011, the performance and trust ratings of the country’s top national government officials remain basically unchanged at the national level and across geographic areas and socio-economic classes At the national level, the only notable change in the ratings, in terms of both performance and trust, of the top five national government officials is the increase in the level of public distrust in Corona (+7 percentage points). Across geographic areas, Corona experienced significant changes in his ratings as his disapproval ratings increase in Metro Manila (+13 percentage points) and the Visayas (+14 percentage points) while his distrust ratings go up in Metro Manila (+13 percentage points). Across socio-economic groupings, no marked movements in performance and trust ratings may be noted between October 2010 and March 2011. The survey was based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults and has a ±3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a ± 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. Headlines At the time the February to March 2011 survey was conducted, the following developments dominated the headlines: (1) The impeachment proceedings against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez at the House of Representatives; (2) The congressional investigations into the plea-bargaining agreement entered into by former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Comptroller Ret. Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, as well as the alleged corruption involving former high-ranking military officials per the testimonies of former AFP Budget Officer Ret. Lt. Col. George Rabusa and former COA Auditor Heidi Mendoza; (3) The diplomatic row between the Philippines and Taiwan over the deportation of 14 Taiwanese nationals to China; (4) Government efforts to save three Filipinos facing execution in China for drug trafficking; (5) The commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution; (6) The evacuation of Filipinos in Libya amidst the ongoing civil unrest in the country; (7) The earthquake in New Zealand that took the lives of several Filipinos; (8) The replacement of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary, the confirmation of some presidential cabinet appointees, the proposed filing of administrative charges versus the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief for alleged complicity in the failed takeover of the LTO’s information technology systems contractor Stradcom in December 2010 and the appointment of a new AFP Chief of Staff; and (9) The continuing increase in the prices of petroleum products and the prices of other commodities. – VVP, GMA News