Filipinos gave mixed opinions and were divided on the actions taken by the government in solving the Maguindanao massacre, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations showed.
 
The Fourth Quarter 2009 Social Weather Survey showed that 41% of Filipinos are satisfied while 44% are not satisfied with the actions taken by the government in resolving the Maguindanao massacre, which left 57 people dead. Fifteen percent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
 
The survey showed that the government received a “neutral” net satisfaction rating of -2 for its handling
of the massacre. The net satisfaction rating is computed by deducting the dissatisfaction rate from the satisfaction rate.
 
The survey, however, has a 2.2% margin of error for the national figures.
 
“People in all areas and classes had mixed opinions about the government’s action to bring justice to the Maguindanao massacre case,” the SWS said.
 
Neutral in all areas

The national government, meanwhile, received a “ poor” net satisfaction rating of -17 on suppressing private armies in Mindanao.
 
The survey was conducted from Dec. 5-10, 2009—or more than a week after the massacre—through interviews with 1,200 respondents (300 from Metro Manila and 600 each from the rest of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao).
 
The net satisfaction score, the survey said, was neutral in all areas:  +1 for the Visayas, -1 for the rest of Luzon, -6 in Mindanao, and -8 in Metro Manila. SWS defines  a “neutral” net satisfaction rating as a rating from +9 to -9.
 
It is also neutral across socio-economic classes: -1 for ABC, -2 for the class D or the masa, and -5 in class E.
 
Like Pacquiao's fight

The Maguindanao massacre is said to have been caused by the rivalry between 2 warring political clans contesting the gubernatorial post in the province next year. A few days later, the government placed the province under the state of martial law.
 
The issue, the survey also showed, was followed by 75% of the public, next to the boxing fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, which was followed by 81%.
 
The national administration, meanwhile, received poor rating in general, the survey showed.
 
“The December 2009 Social Weather Survey found 28% of adults satisfied and 51% dissatisfied with the overall performance of the National Administration, for a poor net satisfaction rating of –23, similar to –20 in the previous quarter,” the survey said.
 
Out of the 14 issues included in the survey, the national administration received very good rating for 1 issue, moderate for 4 issues, neutral on 6 issues and poor on 3 issues.
 
The national administration received a “very good” net satisfaction rating of +51 on helping victims of disasters. It received moderate ratings on preparedness for natural calamities (+27), promotion of the welfare of OFWs (+26), ensuring that medicines are affordable (+20), and helping the poor (+17).
 
Neutral ratings were given by the public to the government on fighting terrorism (+4), campaigning against illegal drugs (-3), reconciliation with the Muslim rebels (-4), reconciliation with Communist rebels (-4) and for fighting inflation (-9) and crimes (-9).
 
The national administration, meanwhile, also received a poor ratings on ensuring no hunger (-15) and eradicating graft and corruption (-27). (Newsbreak)