Analyst: Aquino's political capital eroding

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III's approval and trust ratings will further weaken as he is hounded by issues after the clash that killed 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, a political analyst said.

Malou Tiquia, president of political management firm Publicus Asia Inc., cited results of the recent Pulse Asia survey, saying the administration should expect his ratings to dip once more once the survey period covers the release of the investigation reports of the Senate panel and police Board of Inquiry (BOI).

Aquino received 38-percent approval and 36-percent trust ratings in the March survey of Pulse Asia—his lowest since being elected president in 2010.

"Hindi pa dito lumalabas yung ulat na nanggaling sa BOI at sa Senado, so sa tingin ko puwedeng ma-erode pa yung present 38[-percent approval rating]," Tiquia said Tuesday night in an interview over dzMM.

"Kung hindi nila magawan ng paraan para ma-explain sa publiko nang maayos kung ano talaga ang nangyari, sa tingin ko magkakaroon pa ng erosion 'yon," she added.

The probe reports find Aquino as one of those mainly responsible for the debacle after he allegedly bypassed the police leadership's chain of command in the planning and execution of the bungled anti-terror operation.

Tiquia also rejected Malacañang's statement that Aquino remains more popular than his predecessors despite the drop in ratings.

"Kasi kung iko-contextualize mo, ang pinanggalingan ng approval rating ay 70, 'yan yung political capital na tinatawag namin, talagang nawawala na unti-unti," Tiquia said, referring to surveys in 2011 when Aquino was approved by 72 percent and trusted by 74 percent of respondents.

Tiquia attributed to the recent drop in ratings to Aquino's actions following the deadly police clash with Moro rebels in January. Aquino was criticized for his absence at the arrival honors for the remains of the fallen troopers in Manila and for his perceived inability to accept responsibility despite delivering two national addresses on the botched police mission.

"Very telling 'yung pagharap niya nang dalawang beses na wala namang sinasabi na sarado. [Pati] 'yung narrative na dumating yung bangkay na wala 'yung ama ng bansa. Sa tingin ko, 'yun 'yong nakakapanlumo lalo na dun sa mga nagmamatyag," she explained.

She also said even when Aquino spent nearly the entire day with the grieving families of the troopers, the act was perceived as an "afterthought."

"Siguro kinailangan [n'yang] bumawi, pero kailangan talaga nandoon siya mismo sa unang araw," Tiquia said. "Ang lumalabas ang daming naging afterthought."

Tiquia pointed out, however, that Aquino remains relatively approved and trusted in Visayas and Mindanao as well as by the lowest economic classes, D and E.

"Yung masa nasa kanya, yung Visayas [at] Mindanao ... nandoon parin yung trust, na-erode nang kaunti, pero hindi ganoong katindi ng katulad sa [National Capital Region] na disapproved na sila," she said.