Solons: Poor leadership, work ethic dragged down Aquino's rating

Opposition and party-list lawmakers said Tuesday the drop in President Benigno Aquino III's satisfaction ratings may be attributed to his "unsatisfactory" leadership style and work ethic. Deputy Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said Filipinos are starting to become disappointed over the way the President and some of his friends in the executive branch run the government. “This is a wake up call already. Half of the population is not satisfied with the way you’re handling government," he said in a statement on Tuesday. He added that the survey results proves that his colleagues at the House of Representatives should all the more push through with the proposed probe on Aquino’s “kaibigan, kaklase at kabarilan." A survey conducted by pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) from June 3 to 6 yielded a +46 net satisfaction rating for Aquino—slightly lower compared to his +51 rating in March. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda has downplayed the drop in Aquino’s rating, saying that the level of dissatisfaction remained steady nationwide. The SWS poll result came days after 34 members of the House opposition bloc filed House Resolution 1419 urging the House committee on good government and public accountability to conduct an inquiry on Aquino’s close friends in the executive department. Better work ethic Meanwhile, women lawmakers urged Aquino to improve his work ethic to avoid a further drop in his satisfaction ratings. Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, an opposition member, said the administration has been “slow" in addressing the needs of the country. “More and more people are getting disappointed with this administration as they are either too slow or not addressing at all the needs of the people. If this situation persists, this will have a downward spiral trend in the coming months," she said in a separate statement. Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Emerenciana de Jesus, for her part, attributed Aquino’s ratings drop to the government’s failure to address the rising prices of basic commodities. “His [Aquino’s] non-action to people’s economic issues will really bring down his credibility. Continuing soaring of prices are affecting more and more people," she said. Gabriela Women’s party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, meanwhile, said the President better shape up now that he is approaching the end of his first year in office. “People are disappointed in his performance and expect a better work ethic. One year has passed and he has not improved," she said. - VVP, GMA News