The popularity rating of impeached Philippine President Joseph Estrada has fallen amongst urban and educated voters while the poor and those from rural areas remain largely supportive, a survey agency said Saturday.
"Classes and regions polarize," the independent research group Social Weather Stations said in its report based on a nationwide survey of 2,400 adults.
Conducted between December 8-17, the survey found that 44 percent of the population were satisfied with Estrada's performance compared to 49 percent in the last survey held in September-October.
Those dissatisfied with Estrada rose slightly from 31 percent in September-October to 35 percent in December, the survey revealed.
In Manila, those dissatisfied rose to 46 percent in December compared to the 34 percent in September-October.
The shift in Estrada's popularity comes after the outbreak of a scandal in October over allegations that he had received huge payoffs from illegal gambling bosses and skimmed off government funds.
As a result, the president has been impeached by the House of Representatives and is on trial in the Senate for corruption and bribery. If convicted, he will be forced the step down.
A growing number of Filipinos, including Roman Catholic Church leaders, businessmen and students, have rallied to call for Estrada's resignation.
Estrada, a former top movie star who still retains much of his show biz appeal, has long relied on the poor Filipino masses as his support base.
Since the outbreak of the scandal, he has frequently charged that it is only the rich who want him out and that the poor are still with him.
The survey showed that among the top three classes of society, those dissatisfied with the president rose to 56 percent in December from 34 percent barely two months ago.
Among the lower classes, the dissatisfaction ratings for Estrada had not changed as sharply and among the poorest Filipinos the number of those dissatisfied actually fell to 28 percent in December compared to 30 percent in September-October -- MANILA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
