MEDIA RELEASE (March 26, 2015) FROM: Dr. Ana Maria L. Tabunda Research Director Pulse Asia Research, Inc. RE: Pulse Asia Research’s March 2015 Nationwide Survey on the Performance and Trust Ratings of the Top Five National Government Officials and the Performance Ratings of Key Government Institutions Pulse Asia Research, Inc. is pleased to share with you some findings on the Performance and Trust Ratings of the Top Five National Government Officials and the Performance Ratings of Key Government Institutions from the March 2015 Ulat ng Bayan national survey. We request you to assist us in informing the public by disseminating this information. The survey fieldwork was conducted from March 1 – 7, 2015 using face-to-face interviews. The 25 January 2015 encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao between elements of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) on the one hand and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on the other, dominated the news headlines in the weeks immediately prior to and during the conduct of the field interviews for this survey: 1. The encounter ensued in the course of a PNP-SAF operation to arrest wanted terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir (alias Marwan) and Abdul Basit Usman, resulting in the death of 44 PNP-SAF officers, 18 MILF members and at least seven civilians. The death of Marwan was confirmed through DNA tests two weeks after the encounter. 2. The declaration by President Benigno S. Aquino III of 30 January 2015 as National Day of Mourning for the fallen officers; 3. The President’s absence during the arrival honors for the 42 of the 44 fallen policemen whose bodies arrived at the Villamor Air Base from Maguindanao on 29 January; 4. President Aquino’s conferment of the Medalya ng Katapangan upon the 44 slain PNP-SAF policemen during the necrological services held as part of the National Day of Mourning; 5. The conduct of several investigations to shed light on what really transpired in Mamasapano and who should be held accountable for the death of the 44 policemen by: a. the PNP through the Board of Inquiry it created which is headed by PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Benjamin Magalong1; b. the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which conducted its own investigation into its reported failure to extend assistance to the PNP-SAF members involved in the encounter; c. the Senate; d. the House of Representatives2; and e. the Department of Justice (DOJ) through the joint National Bureau of Investigation -National Prosecution Service (NBI-NPS) Special Investigation Team created by Secretary Leila M. de Lima. 6. A proposal for the creation of a still another body – an independent truth commission – to conduct a probe into the incident; 7. Amidst the unresolved questions surrounding the Mamasapano incident, calls for the resignation of President Aquino by several senior bishops belonging to the National Transformation Council (NTC), student groups and other militant organizations; 8. The statement by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that it is not supportive of such calls even as it favors the creation of a truth commission; and 9. The expression by several business groups of their continued support for President Aquino and his administration’s peace initiatives in Mindanao despite the events in Mamasapano. 1 The final report of the PNP Board of Inquiry had not yet been released while the survey was being conducted. 2 In a related development, the HOR suspended its hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law until such time that the concerned government agencies have submitted their reports on the Mamasapano incident. At the Senate, the Committee on Local Government also suspended its discussions on the proposed law but the Committee on Constitutional Amendments proceeded with its own hearings. 2 Other developments during this period that are connected to the Mamasapano encounter are: (1) The removal of PNP-SAF Commander Getulio Napeñas was removed from his post on 27 January 2015 following the death of 44 of his men during the Mamasapano encounter; (2) The resignation of PNP Director General Alan Purisima on 05 February 2015 amidst reports that he was involved in the decision-making process related to the police operation in Mamasapano whilst under preventive suspension resulting from a graft and corruption charge; (3) Reports that disgruntled members of the country’s armed forces are planning to stage a coup against President Aquino in the aftermath of the Mamasapano incident and expressions of loyalty to the Philippine government by high ranking military and police officers who say that they still have to verify such reports; (4) Military operations conducted toward the end of February 2015 by the AFP against the BIFF and the Abu Sayyaf in certain areas of Mindanao reportedly to reduce these groups’ ability to carry out violent attacks against civilians. The military offensive has resulted in casualties on both sides as well as the evacuation of thousands of civilians; Among the other developments during this period are: (1) The retirement on 02 February 2015 of Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson Sixto Brillantes, Jr. and COMELEC Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph.3 (2) The retirement of Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan. (3) The acquittal of former COMELEC Chairperson Benjamin Abalos in the electoral sabotage case filed against him in connection with the alleged electoral fraud in North Cotabato during the May 2007 elections; (4) The Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of its July 2014 decision declaring the Development Acceleration Program (DAP) as unconstitutional. However, the high court allowed the augmentation of funds for particular projects with existing allocations under the General Appropriations Act (GAA). (5) The Sandiganbayan’s order to freeze of the assets of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla, Jr. 3 A few days before his retirement, the Chairperson Brillantes finalized a P 268.8-million contract with Smartmatic that involves the repair of 82,000 voting machines to be used in the May 2016 elections. 3 (6) The resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings regarding allegations of corruption against Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay; (7) The entry of a “not guilty” plea by an Olongapo City court on behalf of US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton in connection with the alleged murder of Filipino transgender Jennifer Laude in October 2014; (8) The start of the Lenten Season as Catholic Filipinos observed Ash Wednesday on 18 February 2015; (9) The commemoration of EDSA People Power Revolution on 25 February 2015; and (10) In the economic front, an increase in electric rates charged customers of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) in February 2014; increases in fuel prices; refusal of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to allow the implementation of a rate hike by Maynilad which was earlier recommended by an arbitration panel; President Aquino’s signing into law the proposal to raise the tax exemption ceiling on bonuses from the existing P 30,000 to P 82,000. As in our previous surveys, this nationwide survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a ± 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a ± 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. Those interested in further technical details concerning the survey's questionnaire and sampling design may request Pulse Asia Research in writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used. Pulse Asia Research’s pool of academic fellows takes full responsibility for the design and conduct of the survey, as well as for analyses it makes based on the survey data. In keeping with our academic nature, no religious, political, economic, or partisan group influenced any of these processes. Pulse Asia Research undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort. For any clarification or questions, kindly contact Dr. Ana Maria Tabunda, Research Director of Pulse Asia Research at 09189436816 or Prof. Ronald D. Holmes, Pulse Asia Research President at 09189335497 or via email ([email protected]). 4 Pulse Asia Research's March 2015 Ulat ng Bayan Survey: Media Release on the Performance and Trust Ratings of the Top Five National Government Officials and the Performance Ratings of Key Government Institutions 26 March 2015 Not one of the Philippines' top five government officials obtains majority approval and trust ratings in March 2015 The leading government officials of the country are unable to obtain majority approval and trust ratings for the first quarter of 2015. President Benigno S. Aquino registers essentially the same approval and indecision ratings (38% versus 39%) as well as trust and indecision figures (36% versus 37%). Appreciation and trust are the plurality sentiments toward Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay (46% and 42%, respectively). In the case of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, he enjoys a near majority approval score (49%) but obtains almost the same trust and indecision ratings (44% versus 38%). Meanwhile, near to small majorities express ambivalence toward the performance and trustworthiness of House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte, Jr. (both at 53%) and Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes A. Sereno (48% and 49%, respectively). The disapproval ratings of these government officials range from 12% for Senate President Drilon to 23% for President Aquino and Vice-President Binay. Likewise, levels of distrust in them range from 18% for the Senate President to 27% for the President and the Vice- President. (Please refer to Tables 1 to 2.) Table 1 AWARENESS & PERFORMANCE RATINGS OF TOP NATIONAL OFFICIALS March 1 - 7, 2015 / Philippines (Row Percent) Base: Aware Top National Officials Aware Approval Undecided Disapproval BENIGNO S.