Aquino biggest loser among top 5 national officials, survey shows

Aquino’s approval rating fell by 21 percentage points, from 59 per cent in November 2014 to only 38 per cent in March 2015. His trust rating, on the other hand fell by 20 percentage points, from 56 per cent in November to only 36 per cent this month.

“Amidst the various challenges being faced by his administration at the present time, appreciation for and trust in the President ease during the period November 2014 to March 2015 not only at the national level (-21 and -20 percentage points, respectively) but in all geographic areas (-18 to -27 percentage points, respectively) and in Classes ABC and D as well (-24 and -23 percentage points, respectively),” a Pulse Asia release said.

According to the poll, which was conducted from March 1 to 7 among 1,200 respondents, the approval ratings of Vice President Jejomar Binay (now 46 per cent from 45 per cent last quarter) and Senate President Franklin Drilon (now 49 per cent from 47 per cent) increased by one percentage point and two percentage points, respectively.

The survey was held more than a month after the botched Mamasapano operation, which resulted in the deaths of 44 policemen, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters and five civilians.

On the other hand, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. suffered a seven-point drop in approval ratings (from 34 per cent in November last year to 27 per cent this month). Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s approval rating also fell (from 37 per cent in November last year to 29 per cent this month).

Aquino also received the highest increase in disapproval ratings (from 11 per cent in November 2014 to 23 per cent this month). Binay’s disapproval ratings remained at 23 per cent while that of Drilon (down by one percentage point to 12 per cent in March), Belmonte (up by one percentage point to 16 per cent) and Sereno (up by five percentage point to 19 per cent) showed minimal changes.