SWS: Estrada’s rating falls

President Estrada’s popularity rating fell in December after the start of his impeachment trial on graft charges, the Social Weather Stations Inc. (SWS) said yesterday.

The survey of 2,400 respondents taken between December 8 and 17 showed the percentage of those satisfied with the administration of Mr. Estrada dropped to 44 percent from 49 percent.

"With 44 percent satisfied and 35 percent dissatisfied with his performance as President, Joseph Estrada obtained a net satisfaction rating of positive nine percent … compared to his net rating of positive 19 percent in the third quarter SWS survey of Sept. 23 to Oct. 6," it said in a report posted on its website yesterday.

The survey was conducted a day after the Senate opened the impeachment trial on charges of corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

On the percentage of those satisfied with the performance of Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, SWS said it "collapsed" to -4 percent compared to 63 percent in the previous quarter.

About 36 percent of those polled said they were satisfied with Arroyo’s performance, but 40 percent said they were dissatisfied with her showing.

Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. continued to fare well as he got a 22 percent net performance rating. About 42 percent of those polled said they approve of his performance while only 20 percent said otherwise.

Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella, on the other hand, got a -4 percent net performance rating. While 23 percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with his performance, 27 percent said they do not approve of his accomplishments.

The SWS also said the net satisfaction rating of the national administration also plunged from 10 percent to two percent.

The pollster also noted slight increases in the net ratings of the Senate, from 25 percent to 28 percent, and the House of Representatives, from 16 percent to 20 percent.

However, the net rating of the Supreme Court rose substantially from 18 percent to 41 percent.