The Philippine Online Chronicles

A nationwide survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that seven out of 10 Filipinos found the handling of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s case as “fair” or just.”

Arroyo is currently charged with electoral sabotage and is detained at the Veterans Memorial medical Center.

Among 1,200 adults surveyed from Dec. 3 to 7, 69% said the Aquino administration handled Arroyo’s case as “makatarungan lamang.” Meanwhile, 17% said it was “harsh” and 13% said it was “too lenient” or “masyadong mapagbigay.”

Around the same number, 7 out of 10 said they had little trust in the former president, resulting in a record low net trust rating for Arroyo with a -62 or “very bad.” More than a year ago, her trust rating was at -52.

Under the SWS ratings, +70 is “excellent,” +50 to +69 is “very good,” +30 to +49 is “good,” +10 to +29 is “moderate,” +9 to -9 is “neutral,” -10 to -29 is “poor,” -30 to -49 is “bad,”-50 to -69 is “very bad” and -70 and below is “execrable.”

More people from Visayas (24%) found the handling “too harsh” while more people from Balanced Luzon (16%; excludes Metro Manila) found the handling “too lenient.”

By socioeconomic class, 69% from class D and E, compared to 7% from ABC, said the handling of the case was fair.

Palace officials said the people’s low rating of Arroyo is a sign of their trust in President Benigno Aquino III. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda added, “The survey is an affirmation of the president’s position and we welcome the sentiments shared by the Filipino people. We will continue the mandate given to us by the Filipino people.”

Aquino still drawing “very good ratings”

At the same time, a survey conducted at the same time show that Filipinos rate Aquino with a “very good” net satisfaction score of +58. This is higher than the +46 he got in June.

Public satisfaction improved in Metro Manila, rising by 13 points in three months. It is also highest in Balanced Luzon. However, Aquino’s rating remained unchanged in rural areas.

The President’s rating was also consistent with all socioeconomic classes.

Corona no Teehankee

On the other hand, of all the chief justices that have served the country from 1986, Chief Justice Corona has the lowest public satisfaction rating.

Earlier, Lacierda said Corona was no Claudio Teehankee. Teehankee was the 16^th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. As a justice, he was best known for dissenting many vital cases against the Marcos administration, especially those that curtail rights of the people. It was only in 1986 that he was appointed as Chief Justice by former president Corazon Aquino.

Corona’s present satisfaction score is at zero, actually a rise from the -18 he received after his controversial midnight appointment by Arroyo. Meanwhile, Teehankee holds the highest rating for Chief Justices at +52 in October 1986.

With the deadline for Corona’s reply to court summons ending today, the Chief Justice sought for a dismissal of the impeachment complaint with a 79-page document.

A certain Atty. Dexter Corpus delivered his reply at the Senate at 3 p.m. today.

“What is at stake then is the independence of the Supreme Court and the Judiciary as a whole,” Corona said in his reply.