The latest survey of the Social Weather Station should encourage President Benigno Aquino III to be his own man and assert his leadership as influence groups exert pressure on him, some out of a genuine desire to help him and others to push their own agenda.

The survey conducted June 25 to 28, a few days before Aquino’s inauguration as the country’s 15th president, showed that 88 per cent of adult Filipinos said they have much trust on him while only four percent said they had little trust in him. Eight per cent were undecided.

Vice President Binay also got good ratings with 77 per cent trusting him much and only eight per cent have “little trust” in him. Fourteen per cent were undecided.

Eighty-eight percent is very high. Higher than his mother’s high trust rating of plus 72 in October 1986, eight months after she ascended into the presidency through People Power that ended more than two decades of Marcos dictatorship. Higher also than the March 1995 excellent rating of Pope John Paul , whose Philippine visit two months earlier attracted a five million throng at the Rizal Park.

SWS’ Mahar Mangahas surmised in his Inquirer column that “Perhaps the reason why trust in Noynoy Aquino is unprecedented is that its context is the ending of an unprecedentedly unpopular administration.”

Aquino won because of all the presidential candidates in last May’s election, he was the one who promised to be the opposite of Arroyo, whose nine years in power was characterized by rampant lying, cheating and stealing.

But there is some sort of a disconnect in the people’s attitude towards Aquino because even as they trust him, they also said that they don’t expect him to fulfill his campaign promises.

SWS asked, “Sa inyong palagay, ilan sa mga pangako ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino noong kampanya ang matutupad niya?” (In your opinion, how many of President Noynoy Aquino’s promises during the campaign can he fulfill?). Only 14 per cent said “all”. Nine per cent answered “almost all”. Fifty-three per cent said “a few”, four per cent said “almost none” and five per cent said “none”.

We can say that except for the rabid Noynoy fanatics, many of those who voted and “trust” him were aware of his limitations as a leader. Or they are just being practical. They are aware of the complexities of the country’s problems and they would understand if Aquino does not make good his campaign promises, one of which was to make Arroyo answer for the crimes she has committed against the Filipino people.

The high level of trust that the people has put on him should give Aquino confidence to give the people a government based on merit rather than patronage.

There are some appointments that show Aquino giving in to pressure groups. One of them is Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, who we understand enlisted the help of Aquino’s sisters Ballsy Cruz and Pinky Abelleda and the Iglesia ni Cristo to be able to hold on to his position.

The retention of Romulo has as foreign secretary has negative ripple effects in the foreign service such as the illegal extension of Arroyo’s political ambassadors.

There are a few more appointments he has made that show him bowing to pressure groups.

Aquino should realize the fleeting characteristic of trust. It can be withdrawn as freely as it has been bestowed on him.