PRESIDENT Arroyo is perceived to be the most corrupt Chief Executive in the country’s recent history and her administration the hardest hit by allegations of  graft compared to others, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed.

                The results of Pulse Asia’s  October 2007 Ulat ng Bayan national survey on Corruption-Related Issues, conducted among 1,200 respondents nationwide from October 20 to 31, 2007, also showed that former President Corazon Aquino is seen as the least corrupt Chief Executive in Philippine history, and her administration as the least hounded by allegations of corruption.

                Aside from  Arroyo, Aquino and Marcos, the others included in the survey were former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada.

                Asked which president is viewed as the “most corrupt in the history of the Philippines,” Arroyo obtained the highest percentage with 42 percent, followed by Marcos with 35 percent, Estrada with 16 percent, Ramos with 5 percent,  Aquino with 1 percent, while 2 percent had no answer.

                But asked who they think is the least corrupt, Aquino led the pack with 66 percent, followed by Estrada with 11 percent, Marcos with 9 percent, Ramos with 6 percent, Arroyo with 5 percent, while 3 percent declined to answer.

                When asked, “under which administration has there been the most intense allegations,” 45 percent answered the Arroyo administration; Marcos administration, 31  percent; Estrada administration, 14 percent; Ramos administration, 7 percent; Aquino Administration, 1; while 1 percent had no comment.

                President Arroyo, speaking at a forum, expressed the hope that soon perception will match reality, noting the great strides made in her administration's fight against corruption.

When the survey was conducted, the dominant news were on the alleged payoff in Malacañang, renewed ouster calls against the President, the Glorietta blast, the rift between the President and Speaker Jose de Venecia,  the Senate probe on the ZTE contract, the pardon grant to Estrada, barangay polls, rising world oil prices and the steady appreciation of the peso.

                Pulse Asia’s survey has a ± 3% error margin at the 95-percent confidence level; subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey  have a ± 6% error

margin, also at 95-percent confidence level.

                Pulse Asia said it undertakes Ulat ng Bayan surveys “on its own without any party singularly commissioning

the research effort.” M. Gonzalez

Army general vows to rid NL of communist rebels by 2010

A RANKING Army official said on Tuesday that the units under his command could finish the New People’s Army (NPA) in their areas before 2010 despite the earlier pronouncements of other leaders of the military that they may not be able to meet the deadline set by President Arroyo.

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Lito Atienza was to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Tuesday to discuss initiatives to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of the Coral Triangle, a rich marine area bordering Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.

MILITANT groups are gearing up for nationwide protest actions against the recent surge in oil prices.

Members of the leftist labor federation Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) will lead the nationally coordinated protest actions.

THE Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) is bent on unmasking the individuals who cooked up the National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) allegedly overpriced purchase of coal supply for Napocor plants when the bicameral oversight panel meets on Thursday, Sen. Miriam Santiago said.

SEN. Antonio Trillanes IV and his group admitted to courtroom misbehavior on Tuesday as they apologized to the judge for walking out of the hearing of the coup charges against them on November 29, prior to taking over the Peninsula Manila Hotel.

PRESIDENT Arroyo is perceived to be the most corrupt Chief Executive in the country’s recent history and her administration the hardest hit by allegations of  graft compared to others, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A powerful explosion rocked the province of Sulu, causing the destruction of Commission on Elections (Comelec) properties.

AT least five Cabinet members will be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) before Congress goes on a Christmas break next week, the head of the House of Representatives’ contingent to the commission announced on Tuesday.