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Thursday, April 21, 2005
More Pinoys trust Estrada over Arroyo: survey
MANILA -- A reversal of situation for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her predecessor, former President Joseph Estrada.
Estrada's net trust rating is nine percentage points, or 21 points higher than the net satisfaction rating of Arroyo, a February 25-March 10 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.
The SWS survey, which had 1,200 respondents, found 44 percent having "much trust" and 36 percent having "little trust" in Estrada or a net trust rating of nine per cent (correctly rounded).
Arroyo's net satisfaction rating in the same survey was -12 or 36 percent satisfied and 48 percent dissatisfied.
The survey said trust in Estrada prevailed in Luzon (net 14) and Mindanao (net 11), while opinion is split in Metro Manila (five) and Visayas (-3).
Compared to August 2004, distrust in Estrada eased in Visayas, which is where Arroyo gets most of her support, by 19 points (from net -22 to net -3). Trust in Estrada, however, declined in Mindanao by 18 points, from net 29 to net 11.
By economic class, those who trust Estrada were dominant in Class E (20) and Class D (9). The elite Class ABC remained negative towards Estrada (net -9).
More than half or 54 percent of the respondents said the pace of Estrada's plunder trial is "much too slow" while 34 percent said it is "moving in the right pace." Only 10 percent said it is "too much in a hurry."
A little more than half (52 percent) paid close attention to news about Estrada's plunder trial, placing it at par with news on the proposed increase in taxes (52 percent).
It received more attention than the renewed fighting in Sulu between soldiers and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) (44 percent), peace negotiations between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) (43 percent) and the court battle of human rights victims of former President Ferdinand Marcos (33 percent).
Getting more attention than Estrada was the death of Fernando Poe Jr. with 79 percent focusing on it, followed by the East Asia tsunami (67 percent), and bombings and terrorist acts in the Philippines (62 percent).
The SWS survey also showed that close to half (48 percent) of respondents believe government is treating Estrada fairly while 27 percent said "too harsh". Only 24 percent said government was "too lenient" with Estrada.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita attributed Estrada's higher rating compared to Arroyo's to Filipinos' love for the underdog and to the economic hardships they are suffering under the Arroyo administration.
"Kahit sinong Presidente kaya ngayon na tinamaan ng oil price hike sa akala n'yo he or she would get a very high mark because of the prevailing situation (Whoever is President now at a time of high oil prices, do you think he or she would get a very high mark because of the prevailing situation)?" Ermita said.
Ermita said Estrada's plunder trial is being handled by the Sandiganbayan. He said the case is expected to drag because it is the turn of the defense to present witnesses and evidence.
"I suppose if they rest soon enough, maybe that will hasten the conclusion of the case," he said. (JMR)
(April 21, 2005 issue)
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