PNoy blames ratings drop on Arroyo

The drop in the latest satisfaction ratings of President Benigno Aquino III is apparently, in the chief executive's eyes, the fault of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration.

 

Earlier, pollster Social Weather Stations survey showed that Aquino's satisfaction scores dropped from "very good" in June to "good" in September.

 

The survey, conducted from September 20 to 23, showed 68 percent were satisfied with Aquino's performance, with 19 percent dissatisfied, for a net rating of +49.  Although good, the rating was 15 points below the +64 he scored in June.

 

Aquino told reporters during an interview in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday afternoon that the ratings drop is because of the pork barrel scam, which he said began or was at its peak during the Arroyo administration.

 

"2007 to 2009 [yan nangyari]. Sino ba ang nakaupo sa Malacañang? Hindi kami," he 

 

"So parang damay-damay na lang dahil pare-pareho kaming gobyerno siguro," he added.

 

He noted, however, that the public will soon realize the difference between the two administrations.

 

"In time, makikita ng tao ano ba ang pinaggagawa namin para nga hindi mangyari yung talagang kawalang hiyaan na dinanas—mula 07, actually, hanggang 2010 ang pinakamalala...at makikita nila yon at ang mga kababayan natin palagay ko ay parehas humusga," he said.

 

He specifically said his administration has already filed several cases against those who were allegedly involved in the scam. 

 

"Nasa Ombudsman na yun, which is an independent constitutional body tasked to bring the cases before the Sandiganbayan, and we will be filing more cases," he said.

 

But this is not the first time the Aquino administration blamed something on the previous administration, with the venue even being the State of the Nation Address.

 

In 2011, the Palace specifically blamed Arroyo for the Philippines’ slide in the global rankings on economic freedom.

 

Earlier this year during the midterm elections, Aquino seized the opportunity presented by Liberal Party's proclamation rally to criticize Arroyo.  — ELR, GMA News