More Pinoys not in favor of Arroyo’s running

Nation
Written by Cai Ordinario / Reporter
Friday, 26 February 2010 20:48


Original Story: http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22324:more-pinoys-not-in-favor-of-arroyos-running&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63


AS the May elections draw near, more Filipinos have become averse to the idea that President Arroyo is running for representative of the Second District of Pampanga, according to the latest Ibon Foundation nationwide survey.

The survey conducted in January 2010 showed that 82 percent of respondents were aware that Mrs. Arroyo was running for Congress.

Of this number, some 86 percent said they were not in favor of the President’s move to run, while only 6.2 percent were in favor. Those who did not have an answer accounted for 7.8 percent of the total.

“Most Filipinos are not in favor of President Arroyo’s stay in the government as Pampanga representative,” Ibon said in a statement.

The 86 percent who said “no” was an increase compared with the number of respondents who said “no” in the July and October 2009 surveys conducted.

Based on the July and October 2009 surveys that asked respondents the question “Are you aware of reports that President Arroyo plans to run for Congress in the 2010 elections after her term as President ends?” around 82.01 percent said “No” in July and 85.76 percent in October.

Ibon said the January 2010 nationwide survey was conducted from January 9 to 17 using multistage probability sampling scheme. The latest survey has a margin of error of +3 percent.

Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that Mrs. Arroyo can run for representative of the Second District of Pampanga. This ruling upheld the earlier decision of the Commission of Elections (Comelec) to allow the President to run in the May polls.

In a minute resolution, the Supreme Court stated that the Comelec did not commit grave abuse of discretion by accepting the President’s certificate of candidacy filed in December.

However, petitioners such as Liberal Party senatorial candidate Party-list Rep. Maria Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel of Akbayan said their group is going to appeal the decision of the Supreme Court. Hontiveros has said in previous interviews that running for Congress is the President’s way or staying on in Malacañang.


Original Story: http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22324:more-pinoys-not-in-favor-of-arroyos-running&catid=26:nation&Itemid=63