President Marcos does not mind seeing his ratings go down if it is the effect of his pursuit to investigate corruption in the anomalous flood control projects, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Tuesday, Dec. 30.

Castro was reacting to a recent Pulse Asia survey that revealed that public sentiment toward the President remained largely negative in December.

According to Pulse Asia, "the plurality sentiments toward the President are disapproval for his quarterly performance and distrust in him (48 percent and 47 percent, respectively)."

For Castro, approval ratings are only "a guide for the administration."

"Pero ano man ang resulta nito, mataas o mababa, ay hindi makaka-apekto kay Pangulo at sa kanyang tuloy-tuloy na pagtatrabaho lalo na sa pagsugpo o pagkitil sa korapsyon (Whatever the result of the surveys on his approval ratings, either it's high or low, won't affect the President and his pursuit to solve corruption)," she added.

If the recent survey result was only caused by President Marcos' move to investigate all those involved in the flood control project controversy, which had already affected the economy and triggered political noise, Castro said, the President would not mind it.

"Dahil sa ang ginawa niya ay isang right decision na maaaring hindi popular decision dahil maraming maaapektuhang tao at politiko (Because what he did was a right decision, which might not be popular because it affected lots of individuals, including politicians)," she said.

"Pero kailan ito sisimulan? Sino ang magsisimula ng imbestigasyon? Alam ng Pangulo na maaapektuhan ang kanyang administrayon pero tinuloy ang pagpapaimbestiga para sa bayan at para sa mamamayan (But when will it start? Who will lead the investigation? The President knew his administration would be affected, but he pushed through with it for the sake of the country and the people)," she added.

Castro argued that while the past administration's ratings were higher in the past six year, the anomalous kickbacks also happened.

And she asked: was any of it returned or were any of the perpetrators charged?

"Ang mga korap ay hindi napanagot kundi parang na-tolerate pa. Mataas nga ang rating ng bise presidente, pero may resulta na ba ang pag-iiimbestiga sa kanyang confidential funds na marami sa kanyang mga kaalyado ay hinaharang pa (Those corrupt weren't held accountable but were even tolerated. The Vice President might have higher approval rating, but is there already a result in the investigation of her confidential funds, which her allies even tried to stop?)" she added.