Aquino's ratings sink to lowest after Mamasapano fiasco

MANILA, Philippines - Facing his biggest political crisis over the deadly Mamasapano mission, President Benigno Aquino III registered his lowest overall approval and trust ratings since winning the May 2010 elections, Pulse Asia said Tuesday.

Based on the results of the March 2015 Pulse Asia survey, Aquino's approval rating plunged from 59 percent last November to 38 percent this March while his trust rating dropped from 56 percent to 36 percent in the same period.

Pulse Asia said this is the first time Aquino has not obtained majority national approval and trust ratings in its surveys since he was first rated as president back in October 2010.

The polling firm also noted that Aquino's disapproval and distrust ratings increased from November 2014 to March 2015.

The number of Filipinos who disapproved Aquino's performance rose from 11 percent to 23 percent while those who distrust him increased from 13 percent to 27 percent.

"Around one in four Filipinos is critical of presidential performance and distrusts him," Pulse Asia said.

Pulse Asia said Aquino's approval and trust ratings eroded in all geographic areas as well as in Classes ABC and D.

Criticism for presidential performance became more manifest in Metro Manila and Class D.

Distrust became more marked in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon and Classes ABC and D.

The latest Pulse Asia survey polled 1,200 Filipino adults from March 1 to 7 or more than a month after the January 25 operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that left 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) dead.

Aquino has been heavily criticized for refusing to take accountability for the bungled operation and for pinning all the blame on relieved SAF commander Getulio Napeñas.

Last week, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano mission was released and concluded that Aquino broke the chain of command when he dealt directly with Napeñas and allowed then suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima to take part in the operation.

The BOI found that Aquino broke the chain of command when he bypassed PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and dealt directly with his close friend Purisima, who has since resigned.

Malacañang has insisted that Aquino did not violate the PNP chain of command.