(Updated 5:46 p.m.) Nearly seven out of the 10 Filipinos who participated in a recent survey of pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) said the government's handling of the case of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo was "fair." The survey, conducted from Dec. 3 to 7 this year, also found that Filipinos had “little trust” in Mrs. Arroyo, who is now under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) over electoral sabotage charges. Mrs. Arroyo was arrested Nov. 18 while she was confined at the St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig for a bone problem. She recently underwent three major surgeries in the same hospital. She was transferred to a government hospital, the VMMC, on December 9. Her camp has repeatedly denied the charges against her. The results of the SWS survey, published on SWS' media partner
BusinessWorld, found 69 percent of 1,200 respondents found the government’s handling of Arroyo's case was “only fair” or just (“makatarungan lamang”). Only 17 percent called it “too harsh” (“masyadong mahigpit”) while 13 percent replied it was “too lenient” (“masyadong mapagbigay”). On the other hand, 73 percent of the respondents said they had “little trust,” while 11 percent said they had “much trust” in Arroyo. This gave her a "record" low net trust rating of a “very bad” -62, much lower than the previous record low of -52 (16 percent much trust, 68 percent little trust, also “very bad”) in November 2010, the SWS said. SWS classifies net satisfaction and net trust ratings as follows:
- +70 and above as “excellent”;
- +50 to +69, “very good”;
- +30 to +49, “good”;
- +10 to +29, “moderate”;
- +9 to -9, “neutral”;
- -10 to -29, “poor”;
- -30 to -49, “bad”;
- -50 to -69, “very bad”;
- -70 and below, “execrable.”
'No special treatment' In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte welcomed the survey results. “We’ve always maintained our position that she should not be given any special treatment. That survey in particular reflects the sentiment of the participants for that particular period of time,” Valte told reporters at a press briefing. Valte said the only consideration taken into on the arrangements for Mrs. Arroyo’s detention was her medical condition. Mrs. Arroyo is suffering from a bone problem. She said the request of Mrs. Arroyo for a furlough for New Year’s celebration is up to the Pasay City regional trial court which is hearing the electoral sabotage case filed against her.
Majorities in all regions The SWS said majorities in all regions deemed the treatment of Mrs. Arroyo was “only fair:”
- 79 percent in Mindanao,
- 78 percent in Metro Manila,
- 66 percent in Balance Luzon, and
- 59 percent in the Visayas.
Those who said her handling was “too harsh” included:
- 24 percent in the Visayas,
- 17 percent in Balance Luzon,
- 15 percent in Mindanao, and
- 10 percent in Metro Manila.
On the other hand, those who said it was “too lenient” count included:
- 16 percent in Balance Luzon,
- 15 percent in the Visayas,
- 12 percent in Metro Manila, and
- 5 percent in Mindanao.
Socioeconomic class, gender By socioeconomic class, only seven percent among the ABC category found the government's handling of Mrs. Arroyo's case as “only fair.” On the other hand, 69 percent each among the D or masa and the E also said the handling of Mrs. Arroyo's case was "only fair." By gender, 71 percent of men and 68 percent of women also answered “only fair.” Nineteen percent of the women and 15 percent of the men said it was “too harsh,” while 12 percent of the former and 14 percent of the latter claimed it was “too lenient.”
Education The SWS said the proportion of those replying “only fair” increased with education: 82 percent among college graduates, 70 percent among those who had finished high school, 68 percent among elementary graduates and 63 percent among those with some elementary education. Those who chose “too harsh” numbered the most among those with some elementary education (22 percent), followed by high school graduates (17 percent), elementary graduates (16 percent), and college graduates (10 percent). Those who said it was “too lenient” included 13 percent among those with some elementary education, 15 percent among elementary graduates, 12 percent for high school and 8 percent for those who had finished college.
Higher satisfaction with Aquino The SWS said there was "predictably" higher satisfaction with President Benigno Aquino III among those who described Arroyo’s treatment as “only fair.” It said Aquino received a “very good” net rating of +61 (73 percent satisfied minus 12 percent dissatisfied). This was nine points higher than the net +52 (69 percent satisfied, 17% dissatisfied) among those who said the government’s treatment was “too harsh” and 16 points higher than the net +45 (60 percent satisfied, 14 percent dissatisfied) among those who called it is “too lenient.”
Mrs. Arroyo's trust rating Meanwhile, Arroyo’s net trust rating was low among those who saw her getting “fair” treatment, hitting a “very bad” -67 (9 percent much trust, 76 percent little trust). It was also at a “very bad” net -67 (10 percent much trust, 77 percent little trust) among those who said the government was being too charitable, and eased to a “bad” -37 (22 percent much trust, 59 percent little trust) among those who said the government was being unfair.
- with Amita Legaspi/VVP/RSJ, GMA News 
GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
