A nationwide survey by independent pollster Pulse Asia, released Tuesday, found that 42 percent of Filipinos believed Arroyo is the most corrupt president of the Philippines.
Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo blamed the result on critical media coverage, saying the results show "what happens when media publishes accusations and insinuations against the government without bothering to verify or even ask for the basis of charges."
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Wednesday said they had received reports that the survey was commissioned by a group belonging to the opposition to discredit President Arroyo. We consider this a new destabilization campaign against the President... because they [opposition] know they lack public support, thats why they resort to surveys to tarnish the image of the President.
Hindi ako naniniwala na corrupt si GMA. Sa dami niyang malakas na kalaban, wala pa rin silang mapatunayan na totoong masama na ginawa ni GMA. What does that tell you? Para sa akin, napatunayan lang na kung may masama man siyang nagawa, hindi ganoon ka grabe. Or else she would have been caught by now.
Hindi ako naniniwala na corrupt si GMA. Sa dami niyang malakas na kalaban, wala pa rin silang mapatunayan na totoong masama na ginawa ni GMA. What does that tell you? Para sa akin, napatunayan lang na kung may masama man siyang nagawa, hindi ganoon ka grabe. Or else she would have been caught by now.
I agree with Pinky, that is, if the president were corrupt, there would have been proof of that by now. This is pure propaganda gird to oust GMA from office. Unfortunately, it seems to have worked, that is assuming Pulse Asia's survey is reliable. But such propaganda is easy to sell in the Philippines as many Filipinos distrust government and politicians.
Even the phrasing of the survey's question is tailor-made to suit the group's ultimate goal: Who is the most corrupt president of all? The reason the question is phrased that way is because the group wants to re-install Erap as president, a convicted plunderer. The group has to justify why they would want to re-install a corrupt president. And the justification is that GMA, the most corrupt president, is more corrupt than Erap.
It is very easy to get this result. The typical Filipino is psyched up to think that any incumbent president is either corrupt or incompetent. Because it is always what losing candidates, presidential hopefuls and their supporters say about all incumbents months (sometimes even years) after an electoral loss and, again, before an election. It is their idea of waging an election campaign.
It is absurd and counter-productive. I think the machistas should learn to take defeat with a little more grace and the hopefuls learn to do an Al Gore, showing their accomplishments, competence and vision. Instead of destroying the institution they all thrive on.
I do not believe our presidents are any more corrupt than those of other countries, except perhaps for Marcos after he became a dictator. We are just very assertive against and more distrustful of government and see it as an enemy state. A carry-over from centuries of occupation by foreign governments, Spain and then by America.