By Joann Santiago
MANILA, March 17 (PNA) — Malacanang on Tuesday said President Benigno Aquino III will continue to implement reforms to attain the inclusive growth goal in the country despite the drop of his approval and trust ratings to its lowest level.
This after results of the Pulse Asia survey, conducted from March 1-7, 2015, showed a 21 percent decline on the President’s performance ratings compared to the November 2014 figures; and a 20 percent drop on his trust ratings.
Approval rating on the President’s performance rating slid to 38 percent from last November’s 59 percent while his trust ratings went down to 36 percent from 56 percent previously.
“Ang tugon po ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon diyan ay ibayong pagsisikap at pagpupunyagi na ipagpatuloy ang mga reporma, tapusin ang mga programang naumpisahan para matamo po natin ‘yung sustainable inclusive growth,” PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a briefing.
The Palace official noted that these ratings have been affected by the result of the police’s Special Action Force (SAF) operation to arrest wanted terrorists – Malaysian Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, and Filipino Ahmad Akmad Batabol Usman, alias Basit Usman – in Mamasapano, Maguindano on January 25, 2015.
Questions on the President’s accountability on the incident remain but Coloma reitereated what the Chief Executive, in his televised speech last February 6, acknowledged – – that he is the “father” of the 44 SAF members who were killed during the said operation.
”Nangyari ang trahedya sa ilalim ng aking panunungkulan. Dadalhin ko po hanggang sa huling mga araw ko ang pangyayaring ito. Responsibilidad ko po sila kasama ang buong pwersa ng SAF sa operasyong ito pati na ang mga nagligtas sa kanila na nalagay din sa panganib ang buhay. (This tragedy happened during my term and I will carry this to the end of my days. They were my responsibility together with the rest of the forces of the SAF involved in this operation as well as those who rescued them and whose lives were likewise put in danger),” Aquino said.
Coloma noted that “the President has repeatedly said that all successes and all failures of his administration land on his doorstep.”
“He believes that in time the truth will set us all free,” he said stressing that “we are determined to work even harder to continually earn our people’s trust and confidence.”
The PCOO chief said the President continues to listen to his constituents to understand them more and to be worthy of their trust.
”He also remains firmly committed to rendering justice as well as pursuing the peace process,” he said.
”In the remaining 15 months, the President and the Cabinet will intensify the implementation of development programs and the strengthening of institutional reforms toward achieving sustainable and inclusive growth and fulfilling our people’s aspirations,” he added. (PNA)