IF integrity means not stealing from the public treasury, Mr. Aquino gets a passing grade. What took place was probably this. He got excess financial support in the 2010 elections and decided that what he had saved from that campaign was enough for a lifetime. As president, he has intelligence funds to cover extra-ordinary expenses such as contributions to friends and politicians in need. The need for piling up personal wealth has not been an urgent, pressing and all-consuming concern of his presidency.

Yet, even with the perfect knowledge that he did not raid the public coffers, there is no appreciation from the common man like myself for Mr. Aquino. In fact, were he allowed by law to seek a second term, say, in a hypothetical match-up with Mr. Binay, we would probably vote for Mr. Binay, despite his soiled reputation and the allegations of massive corruption.

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