The Philippines is not only the second most corrupt country in Asia, and one of the top 10 most corrupt countries in the world, as measured by Transparency International, a global corruption watchdog, but also that its president, Gloria Arroyo, is the most corrupt president in Philippine history, as measured in a recent Pulse Asia survey conducted last October, but kept embargoed by the survey outfit until yesterday.

Mrs. Arroyo, as the Pulse survey showed to be viewed by the Filipino people as the most corrupt ever, topped the list with 42 percent nationwide. Her rating is even worse in the National Capital Region (NCR) which gave her a 50 percent corrupt rating, topping the most corrupt list. Luzon gave her the same percentage in corruption. Visayas, her bailiwick, gave her a 27-percent corruption tag rating while Mindanao gave her a rating of 34 percent.

Among socio-economic classes, ABC, or the so-called elite, gave her 50 percent in gauging her as the most corrupt president in Philippine history; the D class, gave her a 43-percent rating, while the E class or the poorest of the poor, measured her at 35 percent.

Corazon Aquino, who was president from 1986 to 1992, was viewed as the least corrupt president or not corrupt, followed by Joseph Estrada, whom respondents also voted as the second least corrupt, or second president who is not seen as corrupt.

The findings on Estrada validates past surveys where the majority of the people saw him as not having enriched himself while in office, as against the great majority of the respondents also saying that Mrs. Arroyo definitely enriched herself while in the presidential office.

Former strongman Ferdinand Marcos came second, in the most corrupt president list with 35 percent while Estrada ranked third, but with only 16 percent saying he was a corrupt president.

Former presidents Fidel Ramos obtained a 5 percent rating while Aquino had 1 percent saying she was corrupt.

The survey was taken from Oct. 20-3, with 1,200 respondents, and a sampling of 300 people each in the NCR, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Geographically, 50 percent of respondents from NCR and Luzon perceives Mrs. Arroyo as the most corrupt.

Marcos scored 35 percent nationwide, coming second to Gloria in the most corrupt list. In NCR, only 20 percent viewed Marcos as corrupt, Luzon at 26 percent, Visayas at 47percent and Mindanao at 50 percent. Strangely enough it was the E class (43 percent) that viewed him as corrupt.

Estrada was a far third in the corrupt president list, obtaining a 16 percent in the corrupt tag, with the NCR vote pegged at 15 percent, Luzon, 17 percent, Visayas, 22 percent and Mindanao, 9 percent .

The Arroyo administration was also perceived as having the most intense allegations of corruption, obtaining the the highest among Metro Manilans with 56 percent.

The Marcos administration came a far second with 21 percent in the NCR.

It was followed by the Estrada administration (11 percent), Ramos (8 percent) and Aquino (2 percent)

The survey also showed that Aquino was perceived as the least or not corrupt president of the country (66 percent). She scored highest in the Visayas (78 percent).

In the least corrupt least, Aquino was followed by Estrada as the least or not corrupt with 11 percent.

Marcos, who was ousted by a popular revolt in 1986, was the third perceived to be the least or not corrupt (9 percent). Ramos had 6 percent. Mrs. Arroyo was in the bottom of the list with 5 percent.

The survey was conducted when news reports were out that Malaca?ang doled out cash to some 190 congressmen and local government officials.

Asked to comment on the survey, Malaca?ang took on a combative mood as secretary to the Cabinet Ricardo Saludo quickly blamed the media for the negative impressions received by Mrs Arroyo in the survey.

“This is what happens when media publish accusations and insinuations against government without bothering to verify or even ask for the basis of the charges,” Saludo said in text message.

Meanwhile, Estrada took the view that the Philippines would have achieved greater depths and bigger bounds had it been handled by the late Fernando Poe Jr., his friend.

In a television interview, Estrada lamented that had Poe not been cheated in the 2004 elections, he would have been officially proclaimed the winner and the country would be in a far better state than it is today.

“If FPJ became president, and was not cheated in the elections, it is certain that the running of government and the country would be better today,�h Estrada said.

He also offered unsolicited advice to Mrs. Arroyo and her Cabinet, as he said that instead of courting the lawmakers through the gifting them with cash-gifts, the money distributed in Malacanang should have been put to better use such as allocating it for the schools, the teachers, students and the soldiers and especially the masses.

“In the face of her giving hundreds of thousands to governors and congressmen amounting to millions, this could have given to the poor. The teachers, and the soldiers for their combat pay or even combat training,�h Estrada said.

He stressed that the people working hard to keep their families afloat during these trying times can see how congressmen are being fattened up. With Sherwin C. Olaes, Tesa Gaila Medina and Tribune wires

The findings on Estrada validates past surveys where the majority of the people saw him as not having enriched himself while in office, as against the great majority of the respondents also saying that Mrs. Arroyo definitely enriched herself while in the presidential office.

Former strongman Ferdinand Marcos came second, in the most corrupt president list with 35 percent while Estrada ranked third, but with only 16 percent saying he was a corrupt president.

Former presidents Fidel Ramos obtained a 5 percent rating while Aquino had 1 percent saying she was corrupt.

The survey was taken from Oct. 20-31, with 1,200 respondents, and a sampling of 300 people each in the NCR, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Marcos scored 35 percent nationwide, coming second to Gloria in the most corrupt list. In NCR, only 20 percent viewed Marcos as corrupt, Luzon at 26 percent, Visayas at 47 percent and Mindanao at 50 percent. Strangely enough it was the E class (43 percent) that viewed him as corrupt.

Estrada was a far third in the corrupt president list, obtaining a 16 percent in the corrupt tag, with the NCR vote pegged at 15 percent, Luzon, 17 percent, Visayas, 22 percent and Mindanao, 9 percent.

The Arroyo administration was also perceived as having the most intense allegations of corruption, obtaining the the highest among Metro Manilans with 56 percent.

The Marcos administration came a far second with 21 percent in the NCR.

It was followed by the Estrada administration (11 percent), Ramos (8 percent) and Aquino (2 percent)

The survey also showed that Aquino was perceived as the least or not corrupt president of the country (66 percent). She scored highest in the Visayas (78 percent).

In the least corrupt list , Aquino was followed by Estrada as the least or not corrupt with 11 percent.

Marcos, who was ousted by a popular revolt in 1986, was the third perceived to be the least or not corrupt (9 percent). Ramos had 6 percent. Mrs. Arroyo was in the bottom of the list with 5 percent.

The survey was conducted when news reports were out that Malacañang doled out cash to some 190 congressmen and local government officials.

Asked to comment on the survey, Malacañang took on a combative mood as secretary to the Cabinet Ricardo Saludo quickly blamed the media for the negative impressions received by Mrs Arroyo in the survey.

“This is what happens when media publish accusations and insinuations against government without bothering to verify or even ask for the basis of the charges,” Saludo said in text message.

Meanwhile, Estrada took the view that the Philippines would have achieved greater heights had it been handled by the late Fernando Poe Jr., his friend.

In a television interview, Estrada lamented that had Poe not been cheated in the 2004 elections, he would have been officially proclaimed the winner and the country would be in a far better state than it is today.

“If FPJ became president, and was not cheated in the elections, it is certain that the running of government and the country would be better today,” Estrada said.

He also offered unsolicited advice to Mrs. Arroyo and her Cabinet, as he said that instead of courting the lawmakers through the gifting them with cash-gifts, the money distributed in Malacanang should have been put to better use such as allocating it for the schools, the teachers, students and the soldiers and especially the masses.

“In the face of her giving hundreds of thousands to governors and congressmen amounting to millions, this could have given to the poor. The teachers, and the soldiers for their combat pay or even combat training,” Estrada said.

He stressed that the people working hard to keep their families afloat during these trying times can see how congressmen are being fattened up.

SOURCE: Daily Tribune (Sherwin C. Olaes, Tesa Gaila Medina)