News: Opposition maintans high trust rating

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Hi. Election is very near, so please have time to read election related news. Here it is! --- Opposition maintains high trust rating – survey By Helen Flores The Philippine Star 04/12/2007 Despite the economic gains trumpeted by the administration, the public continues to trust the opposition more, a survey taken this month by Pulse Asia showed. Former senator Loren Legarda, who topped a recent Pulse Asia survey on probable winners in the May 14 senatorial elections, got the highest trust rating at 63 percent. On the other hand, public distrust is the predominant sentiment toward President Arroyo. Her trust rating was at 25 percent, 41 percent said they did not trust her, while a large number, 31 percent, was undecided, according to the survey. "Pulse Asia undertook this pre-election survey on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort," it said. Pulse Asia said only five out of 26 personalities "trust-rated" in the survey, which include three opposition senatorial candidates, scored majority trust ratings. Legarda was followed by Senate President Manuel Villar [55 percent], independent senatorial candidate Francis Pangilinan [54 percent], House Minority Leader and opposition bet Francis Escudero [53 percent] and Sen. Manuel Roxas II [52 percent]. The survey further revealed Filipinos trust former presidents Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada more than the incumbent president, each getting a trust rating of 41 percent and 38 percent, respectively. Former President Fidel Ramos, an administration ally, had the same trust and distrust ratings as Mrs. Arroyo. A large percentage of the public also trust former senator and independent candidate Gregorio Honasan [38 percent], Vice President Noli de Castro [44 percent], Sen. Joker Arroyo [44 percent], Sen. Panfilo Lacson [45 percent], Sen. Edgardo Angara [45 percent], Sen. Ralph Recto [45 percent] and Pateros-Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano [47 percent]. Key government officials, with the exception of the vice-president and senate president, also scored disappointingly with the public. Only 87 percent were aware of Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who registered a distrust rating of 36 percent and a trust rating of 19 percent. Exactly the same percentage of Filipinos [41 percent] either distrust Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP] chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. or cannot say if they trust or distrust him, leaving no more than two out of ten among those surveyed avowing trust in the chief of staff, the Pulse Asia said. Commission on Elections [Comelec] Chairman Benjamin Abalos registered almost the same indecision and distrust ratings [39 versus 40 percent]. Only 20 percent trust the elections chief whose task it is to ensure credible elections. Unfortunately, the survey firm said the public is not entirely sure whether they should trust the Comelec or the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections [Namfrel]. "Comelec and the Namfrel score big plurality indecision ratings with 40 percent to 44 percent of Filipinos unable to say whether they trust or distrust these entities," it said. Plurality means the number is big but not enough to reach half or a majority. "And while those trusting Namfrel outnumber those who distrust the group [31 percent versus 24 percent], the Comelec records almost the same trust and distrust ratings [32 percent versus 28 percent]. The overall ratings of both groups are practically unchanged between March and April 2007," the Pulse Asia said. A big percentage of the respondents [39 to 42 percent] are unable to say whether they trust or distrust Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., Atty. Aquilino Pimentel III, former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, Pulse Asia said. "Between March and April 2007, the overall trust ratings of Senator Lacson and former senator [Tessie] Aquino-Oreta declined by nine percentage points while their distrust ratings increased by 10 and 15 points, respectively," it said. Also climbing higher were "the distrust ratings of other TU senatorial candidates, namely Senators Angara, Recto and Arroyo, former senator [Tito] Sotto, Representative Pichay and former chief of staff Defensor [by 7 to 11 points]." "As the interviews for this pre-election survey were being conducted, news headlines were dominated by reports concerning the hostage-taking incident on 28 March in Manila involving 26 schoolchildren, the President’s call for a campaign ceasefire during the Holy Week, the show of force of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslims Democrats [CMD] during their national convention held on 02 April, the temporary release of Bayan Muna party-List Rep. Satur Ocampo on a P100,000 cash bond as ordered by the Supreme Court, the appointment of Mr. Enrique Agana as acting director of the National Printing Office [NPO], the series of attacks launched by the New People’s Army [NPA] in Masbate on 03 April, and continued reports of extrajudicial killings which led President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to extend up to end of June 2007 the authority of the Melo Commission to investigate reports of extrajudicial killings across the country," Pulse Asia said. The survey was conducted from April 3 to 5 using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 representative adults.