Senators rate GMA

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, a former ally turned critic of the First Couple, gave yesterday President Arroyo a failing grade for her performance in the last nine years.

Even if he considers the outgoing president’s performance as an economist commendable, Cayetano said Mrs. Arroyo failed overall on the issue of corruption and maintaining the people’s trust in her and her administration.

“I still consider it a failure because the economy is one aspect and it’s an important aspect. But you know the people’s trust, anti-graft, all of these could have brought the economy higher but all are part of governance,” Cayetano said in an interview.

He said that the people’s trust is a “big part of governance,” and that went downhill after the “Hello, Garci” controversy in 2005.  

The 2004 alleged election fraud was followed by the fertilizer fund scam and the national broadband network scandal.

“If you give her good score that means you will re-elect her and we all know that these are the main issues. The President can say that she is not after popularity, but having the people’s trust is a big part of governance. So if we will just talk about economy, many will give her a passing remark or even a high grade,” Cayetano said.

“But it’s unfair for all other past and for all future leaders to focus only on one aspect. When we grade the president, it has to be on everything. Transparency, accountability, addressing poverty, getting the people’s trust, economy and health, etc.,” the opposition senator added.

Cayetano, however, has a “special award” for the President for the peaceful May elections, poll automation and the upcoming peaceful transfer of power to president-elect Benigno Aquino III.

“If I can give her a special award, it’s the peaceful transfer of power. At least the fears that there will be failure of elections did not happen, and God-willing, will not happen,” he said.

“What I can say is a special award for a clean and honest election and peaceful transfer of power, but I cannot in my heart say that she passed, and did well as president,” Cayetano said.

Economy was GMA’s saving grace

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., on the other hand, gave President Arroyo’s performance a low mark of “four” in a scale of 10.

“The anomalies committed by her regime, her government, would cover the positive aspects of her administration and so basically that’s it,” said the minority leader, now on his last term as senator.

Pro-administration Sen. Edgardo Angara gave the outgoing president a high mark, taking into consideration how the Philippine economy was able to survive the world crisis.

“I think she did very well on the economic front because she’s the only president who has really expanded, almost doubled the size of our economy and despite last year and this year’s global recession, she was able to manage our economy much better than most countries in Asia.