Arroyo's 2008 SONA as pack of lies, again

Gloria Arroyo's forthcoming State of the Nation Address will again be a pack of lies. Only 14 out of every 100 Filipinos believe there will be any truth in the scheduled July 28, 2008 SONA, compared to the 86% percent who either disbelieve or remain undecided.

The figures come from the latest Ulat ng Bayan research survey of independent public opinion polling firm Pulse Asia. Not counting the undecided, the marked predominance of those who dismiss Arroyo's 2008 SONA as not truthful compared to those thinking it will be truthful is seen across all demographic levels and social classes. The disparity of the number of skeptics versus those who tend to believe ranges from nearly 100 percent to over 400 percent in all categories of the respondents in the nationwide survey held from July 1-14, 2008.

A clear majority of those from classes A, B and C (36%) think that the scheduled SONA of Arroyo will not be truthful while only less than half (15%) believe it will be truthful. Among those in the D class, 41 % are skeptics while a mere 13% are believers.

In terms of age groups, the greatest disparity is registered in the 25-34 year-old group, with 48% thinking the SONA will be fictitious while a very small percentage (11%) think it will be factual. Even among government personnel, an overwhelming majority is skeptical whether the SONA of Arroyo: 39% believe it will be untruthful while only 15% think it will be truthful.

Among the college graduates or those with post-college education, the percentage of those who believe that Arroyo will lie in the SONA is much higher over those thinking she will not lie (34% vs. 12%). This belief is shared by those without any formal education, although the disparity is higher: 43% are skeptics while only 16% tend to believe.

Almost the same total number of Filipinos have adjudged Arroyo to have been untruthful in her past SONAs compared to those who think she has been truthful (14% vs. 13%). According to Pulse Asia's media release, the "currently low proportion of people (14%) who still believe that her SONA this year will be a truthful one" is a point of concern for the Philippines. There has been significant drop in public indecision over Arroyo's SONA and the "low proportion of believers in her SONA's truthfulness ...cannot possibly represent much political capital for her and her administration."

An earlier Pulse Asia survey study held in October 2007 has shown that Filipinos regard Gloria Arroyo as the Most Corrupt President in Philippine History, even beating former dictator Ferdinand Marcos for the ignominious title. Ironically, Joseph Estrada, her predecessor whom she deposed in the 2001 Edsa revolt, Joseph Estrada, is ranked number two as the Least Corrupt President in Philippine History, next to Corazon Aquino, during the post-Martial Law era.


References:

Table 3 Truthfulness of Forthcoming SONA of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table3_SONA0807.gif.

Table 2 Truthfulness of Forthcoming SONA of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table2_SONA0807.gif.

Pulse Asia's July 2008 Ulat ng Bayan Survey: Media Release on Public Perceptions Regarding State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs). Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?ID=651.

Most Corrupt President in Philippine History. Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table2_corruption_0710.gif.

Least Corrupt President in Philippine History. Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/resources/photos/table3_corruption_0710.gif.

Pulse Asia's October 2007 Special Report's Additional Findings on Corruption-Related Issues (Most/Least Corrupt Philippine Presidents). Pulse Asia. http://pulseasia.com.ph/pulseasia/story.asp?id=632.

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