Most Pinoys say Noy government treated GMA fairly – SWS

MANILA, Philippines – More than half of adult Filipinos believe that the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III treated his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo fairly in the legal cases filed against her, a survey shows.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in April but was only released this week showed that 57 percent of the 1,500 respondents believed that the previous administration treated Arroyo fairly. 

Twenty-one percent said it was too harsh, while another 21 percent said it was too lenient. 

The poll also showed that the net trust rating of Arroyo has dropped from a “bad” net -32 in March 2016 to a “very bad” -52. 

The survey was conducted from March 30 to April 2, more than three months before the Supreme Court issued its ruling acquitting Arroyo of the plunder charges filed against her in connection with alleged anomalies in the use of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds. 

Across the country, those who said that Arroyo was treated fairly are majorities of 60 percent in balance Luzon, 57 percent in Mindanao, 55 percent in Metro Manila and 53 percent in the Visayas.

“By locale, 58 percent in overall urban areas and 57 percent in overall rural areas said government’s treatment of former president Arroyo was fair,” added SWS. 

Majorities by class, age group, education and gender also perceive that Arroyo was treated fairly by the second Aquino administration. 

The SWS survey also showed that the net trust rating of Arroyo has dropped.

“Former president Arroyo’s net trust scores have been at bad to very bad levels since September 2010, reaching as low as -68 in June 2014. The latest net trust of very bad -52 in April 2016 is similar to the levels of March and June 2015,” it added. 

Meanwhile, the percent of those who said that Arroyo should be under house arrest has declined over the years. 

The survey found 58 percent saying Arroyo should have stayed in a regular prison, while 42 percent said she should have been held under house arrest. 

“The proportion of those who wanted her in a regular prison was at 70 percent to 71 percent from March 2012 to March 2014. It declined to 62 percent in June 2015 and to 58 percent in April 2016,” added the pollster.

SWS said majorities of 63 percent in Mindanao, 58 percent in the Visayas and 56 percent in both balance Luzon and Metro Manila said Arroyo should have stayed in a regular prison.

On the other hand, those who wanted her on house arrest were 44 percent in balance Luzon, 43 percent in Metro Manila, 42 percent in the Visayas and 37 percent in Mindanao.

But is Arroyo ready to reconcile with Aquino?

Her lawyer Laurence Arroyo said that reconciliation would only take place if both parties are open to it.

“I guess everything is possible, but it also takes two to reconcile. So it takes both parties to be open to that reconciliation, but it is possible,” he said.

He also denied rumors that Arroyo would file a case against the Aquino government for restitution and compensation.

“The former president is not vindictive,” he added.  – With Robertzon Ramirez