President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER File Photo
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Malaca帽ang听 admitted on听 Monday听 that President听听 Benigno Aquino III鈥檚 big drop听 in satisfaction听 rating听 was due to public 鈥渁nger and disappointment鈥� over the alleged abuses听 in public funds.
鈥淲hile an overwhelming majority of Filipinos remain supportive of the President and his agenda, we recognize that the increase in those dissatisfied reflects the depth of anger and disappointment of the people at the way public funds have been stolen,鈥� Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing at Malaca帽ang.
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鈥淲e share this anger and disappointment. No amount of clutter should confuse the true issue at hand: Public funds were stolen by elected officials and their cohorts in the bureaucracy and the private sector,鈥� Valte said.
From a net satisfaction rating of +64 in June, the President鈥檚 rating dropped by a record 15 points to +49 in September based on the latest Social Weather Stations survey.
The Aquino administration has been reeling from the alleged abuses in the use of legislators鈥� Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), known as 鈥減ork barrel.鈥�
Despite this, Malaca帽ang assured the public of the President鈥檚 鈥渦nwavering commitment to do what is just and right鈥� by weeding out corruption.
鈥淭hese remain our bedrock principles as the Aquino administration takes on its most significant fight yet against those who have joined ranks to derail us from the straight path,鈥� Valte said.
鈥淩est assured that our pursuit of justice will continue and will in fact intensify as more evidence is gathered. Those who have wronged us will be held accountable. Those who wish to bring us back to the old ways will not succeed,鈥� she added.
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