Pulse Asia's October 2007 Special Report on Corruption-Related Issues

Pulse Asia is pleased to share with you some findings from the October 2007 Ulat ng Bayan national survey on Corruption-Related Issues. We request you to assist us in informing the public by disseminating this information on Filipino perceptions, opinions, sentiments, and attitudes relating to current developments here and abroad.

Based on a multistage probability sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above, Pulse Asia’s nationwide survey has a +/- 3% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a +/- 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. Face-to-face field interviews for this project were conducted from October 20 to 31, 2007. (Those interested in further technical details concerning the surveys’ questionnaires and sampling design may request Pulse Asia in writing for fuller details, including copies of the pre-tested questions actually used.)

At the time the interviews for this survey were being conducted, reports on the following developments dominated the news headlines: the cash handed out to selected local government officials and legislators in Malacañang, renewed calls for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s resignation and the planned revival of impeachment complaints against her, the blast in a Makati shopping mall that killed several people, the rift between President Arroyo and House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia over the ZTE and cash handout controversies, the continuing Senate investigation on the ZTE contract, the granting of pardon to former President Joseph Estrada, the holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, and the increasing price of oil in the global market as well as the steady appreciation of the Philippine peso.

The survey’s sampling design and questionnaire are the full responsibility of Pulse Asia’s pool of academic experts and no religious, political, economic or any other form of partisanship has been allowed to influence the survey design, the findings generated by the actual surveys or the subsequent analyses of survey findings.

Pulse Asia undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys on its own without any party singularly commissioning the research effort.

About three in five Filipinos (59%) think a president should resign from office if she/he tolerates graft and corruption among government officials or is linked directly or indirectly to graft and corruption

For a majority of Filipinos (59%), a president’s being linked directly or indirectly to graft and corruption, or even merely tolerating graft and corruption among government officials, are sufficient conditions for a president to resign from office. When asked what they considered to be sufficient reasons for a president to resign from office, almost the same number mentioned either the president’s (22%) or any member of his/her family’s (19%) being linked to graft and corruption, while 18% mentioned the president’s tolerating graft and corruption among government officials.

One in three Filipinos (34%), however, thinks there should be strong evidence of involvement in graft and corruption of the president himself/herself or of his/her family (See Table 1).

Most Filipinos are inclined not to take drastic measures to have a president resign or be removed from office even if they are convinced that he/she should resign or be removed from office

When asked what steps they are willing to undertake to have a president resign or be removed from office if they are convinced that he/she should resign or be removed from office, only one in four Filipinos (25%) expressed willingness to do whatever is necessary (i.e., beyond public rallies and marches) to accomplish their objective. This sentiment is most notable in the Visayas (34%) and least pronounced among Metro Manilans (21%). What most Filipinos (61%) are willing to do is to sign public petitions advocating the resignation or the removal from office of a president – an opinion articulated by near to big majorities (47% to 78%) across geographic areas and socio-economic groups in the Philippines.

Discussing the need to have a president resign or be removed from office is an option favored by 28% of Filipinos while 27% are willing to speak out in public rallies and marches supporting a president’s resignation or removal from office. On the other hand, about a quarter of Filipinos (26%) are prepared to join public rallies or marches calling for the resignation or removal from office of a president. Preference for discussing the issue with friends and acquaintances is most pronounced in Mindanao (39%) while those in the Visayas and Mindanao are most inclined to speak out in public rallies and marches (38% to 39%) or to join such activities (35% to 38%). Those in the rest of Luzon are least inclined to engage in any of these three activities (16% to 21%) (See Table 2).

Considerable majorities are aware of the ZTE broadband contract (68%) and the allegations of bribery concerning the contract (70%); 75% of those aware of the allegation of the bribery say that the Senate should continue investigating the matter

Most Filipinos have heard or read something about the ZTE broadband deal between the Philippines and China (68%) as well as the alleged bribery that took place in connection with the approval of the contract (70%). Big to overwhelming majorities (57% to 94%) across geographic areas and socio-economic groups are aware of these issues with awareness levels being highest in Metro Manila and in the best-off Class ABC.

On the matter of the credibility of the key protagonists – former COMELEC Chairperson Benjamin Abalos, former NEDA Chairperson Romulo Neri, and Amsterdam Holdings co-founder Jose “Joey” de Venecia III – in the ZTE broadband issue, about three in five of those aware of the allegation of bribery (58%) are of the opinion that they are all equally not believable. This sentiment is expressed by near to big majorities (48% to 73%) across geographic areas and socio-economic groups and is most pronounced in the Visayas and Mindanao (70% to 73%). On the other hand, 22% of Filipinos are convinced that de Venecia is the most credible of the three – a view that is most pronounced in Metro Manila and in Class ABC (31% to 32%). In contrast, 12% of Filipinos think Abalos is most credible, while 8% say Neri is most credible.

Even as the ZTE broadband contract has already been cancelled by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo due to the many controversies surrounding the issue, 75% of those aware of the allegation of bribery believe the Senate should pursue the matter further and continue its investigation on the contract. This is the preference of considerable to big majorities across geographic areas and socio-economic groups – from 68% in Mindanao to 81% in Metro Manila. Conversely, 25% think it would be better for the Senate to cease its investigation (See Table 3).