Manila: Filipinos are thoroughly divided over whether President Benigno Aquino has delivered on his campaign promise to stop corruption in government, a private pollster said.
In a nationwide survey of 1,200 respondents between September 8 and 15, 29 per cent said that Aquino delivered on his promise to push for reforms and end corruption in government, said Pulse Asia.
In the same survey, 36 per cent said that Aquino failed to carry out his talk for “the straight path,” said Pulse Asia, which referred to a phrase used by the president to describe his desired policy for reforms for good governance.
About 34 per cent are “ambivalent” over the issue, said Pulse Asia.
Technically, the survey shows that Aquino’s disapproval rating in ending corruption and pushing for reforms for good governance could be 70 per cent, based on the 29 per cent who believed he delivered on his promise.
It is also possible for the 34 per cent who remain ambivalent (or non committal) to change their mind and say between now and 2016 that Aquino has succeeded as a reformist president, analysts told Gulf News.
Explaining the result of the survey, Pulse Asia said the poll was conducted a time when Aquino continued expressing support for Philippine National Police Chief Director General Alan Purisima during his investigation at the Senate for alleged corrupt practices.
It was also done at a time when Aquino sent to the two houses of Congress a proposed law for the implementation of the pro-autonomy peace settlement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said Pulse Asia.
Wrong choice
Aquino was perceived wrong for his support for Purisima, but was perceived correct in wanting to achieve a comprehensive peace in the southern Philippines which has been damaged by decades of conflict between Filipino-Muslim rebels and government soldiers, Pulse Asia said.
The weakening of Aquino’s popularity and approval ratings could greatly affect the strength of his endorsement for the presidential candidate of the ruling Liberal Party in 2016.
The Philippine Constitution bars an incumbent president from running for a second six-year term.
Vice-President Jejomar Binay who belongs to the opposition, has remained on top of other presidential candidates despite the weakening of his popularity and approval ratings — also due to alleged corrupt practices.
