Pulse Asia: 65% wants GMA to resign

consistent with past survey results.

Interesting also na Erap (48%) and Cory (46%) have high trust ratings.

Ramos (31%) and Arroyo (22%) on the other hand, are in the kangkungan.

From the Tribune:

Deposed President Joseph Estrada is riding high, politically. Despite his detention for some five years while facing plunder charges, and despite his having been demonized by the Arroyo government, the latest Pulse Asia survey found that a big plurality or 48 percent of Filipinos nationwide lodge their trust on him.

The trust ratings also show that the detained leader, who is barred from talking to the media or even wave at his supporters, remains the biggest threat politically to President Arroyo, who is distrusted by the majority of the Filipino people, and who want her out of Malacañang.

Moreover, Estrada, among the incumbent president and two former presidents included in this survey who were also trust-rated by Pulse Asia in March 2006, enjoys the highest trust rating (48 percent) — higher than the figure posted in October 2005 measured at 39 percent.

Second to Estrada in trust ratings was former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, with a 46 percent trust rating.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos scored a trust rating of 31 percent while only 22 percent of Filipinos express trust in President Arroyo, who is in power and position.

As for distrust, Mrs. Arroyo is most distrusted by Filipinos (50 percent) followed by former President Ramos (38 percent).

While the distrust ratings of former Presidents Ramos and Estrada declined by 11 and 9 percentage points, respectively, between Oct. 2005 and March 2006, that of Mrs. Arroyo’s distrust ratings remained statistically the same (55 percent versus 50 percent).

The survey results also showed that not only do the Filipinos know what serves best the national interest, but that opinion of what is beneficial for the country and the Filipino people has not changed.

And the public opinion, as reflected in the February-March 2006 Pulse Asia survey, with 1,200 respondents nationwide with a +/-3 percent error margin, says that the majority of Filipinos see President Arroyo’s resignation as being the “most beneficial for the national interest.”

Even in her claimed bailiwick, the Visayas, a majority or 59 percent, now believe it best for the President to resign, a hefty increase from 47 percent in Oct. 2005.

A preponderant majority, or six out of 10 Filipinos (59 percent) hold the opinion that a scenario where Mrs. Arroyo resigns from office is in the best interest of the country and its people.

An additional 6 percent opt for the forcible removal of the President from office — either by a coup or through the intervention of a foreign government that will install its Filipino allies in power, bringing up to 65% the percentage of Filipinos who think it best that the President steps down from office.

Personally, I believe the percentage number of people asking for arroyo's resignation is actually higher than the 65% number pulse survey indicates.

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-- Comparing Erap's poll numbers back in 2000 with Arroyo's

UPDATE:Rudy Romero: Erap foes now his friends

One of the most important changes that has taken place in this country’s political environment during the past year has been the rapprochement between ousted President Joseph Estrada and some of the political figures who collaborated to put an unconstitutional end to his presidency. One by one, persons who during the months immediately preceding Jan. 20, 2001 moved heaven and earth, and deployed all their political resources, to oust Mr. Estrada and replace him with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have been making the two-hour trip to Tanay, Rizal, to express their regrets over having had a hand in his ouster and to renew ties of friendship that were disrupted by that event.

Heading the list of recent visitors to the deposed president’s house-arrest place is former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. Mr. Guingona was no minor participant in the Erap-ouster (note that I didn’t say Edsa II) drama. It was Tito Guingona who stood up in the Senate and, in his best Ateneo accent, delivered a Dreyfus-type “J’accuse” address that set the stage for the subsequent impeachment trial of Mr. Estrada in the Senate. Tito Guingona was hell-bent on putting a premature end to Erap’s presidency and was in the forefront of the activities that reached a climax on that fateful January 2001 day. Yet, on one sunny day in 2005, the former Vice President came a-calling and offered his hand to the ousted president in renewed friendship. Since Mr. Guingona’s speech, Erap had been under house arrest for five years.

Another political leader who was a recent visitor to Tanay was the man who set the impeachment process going by approving the House of Representatives resolution sending the impeachment complaint to the Senate for trial. Then the Speaker of the House, Sen. Manuel Villar cleverly approved the impeachment resolution before Joseph Estrada’s allies knew what had hit their leader. Like Tito Guingona, Manny Villar came to ask Erap to let bygones be bygones and offer a restoration of their friendship. The deposed president, who has remained very popular with the masses despite the ongoing plunder case against him, accepted Mr. Villar’s hand in renewed friendship.

Another political leader who has taken the step toward reconciliation with Joseph Estrada — though not the long trek to Tanay — is former President Corazon Aquino. The woman who succeeded Ferdinand Marcos was no less hell-bent on getting Mr. Estrada to step down, but now here she was to personally wish Erap a speedy recovery from an operation. Cory Aquino went farther than Erap’s former adversaries: she admitted that forcing Mr. Estrada out of office and installing Gloria Arroyo in his place was a great mistake. She regretted having participated in Erap’s ouster.

Like many other people who formed part of the movement to unconstitutionally remove from office the man who received the highest number of votes for President in this country’s history, Corazon Aquino, Teofisto Guingona Jr. and Manuel Villar were saying their mea culpas and asking Joseph Estrada to forgive their mistake and take them back into his friendship. A greater sign of decency and courage that is difficult to imagine under today’s circumstances.

Other politicians have made the journey to Tanay but have left without Erap’s renewed friendship and trust. These have included Angelo Reyes, Michael Defensor and Ronaldo Puno. These individuals are holding positions in Mrs. Arroyo’s administration. Angelo Reyes, then chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, put the seal on Mr. Estrada’s downfall with the withdrawal of his support. Michael Defensor was one of the authors of the impeachment complaint against Erap. Ronaldo Puno was Mr. Estrada’s last secretary of the Interior and Local Government department.

Although he has not paid Mr. Estrada a visit, Senate President Franklin Drilon, another former Erap foe, has reconciled with the ousted president in a clear and forthright manner. They are now bound in a common cause: the ouster of Gloria Arroyo.

One political leader who has made no move whatsoever to restore his ties with Joseph Estrada is former President Fidel Ramos. That’s hardly surprising, considering that El Tabaco never thought much of Erap both as a person and as a Chief Executive. But who cares? Look at where Mr. Ramos’ arrogance and conceit have taken him.

Uh, drilon has paid erap a visit, rudy.