THE PULSE ASIA survey that still had Mr. Binay as the most preferred presidential wannabe (“presidentiable” is not a word, it is a linguistic atrocity ), also noted the waning interest of adult Filipinos in his candidacy. The UNA may spin the survey results and claim that the survey showed the resiliency of Mr. Binay’s candidacy. A 10 percent drop, however, is not a trivial issue.

The 10 percent drop, of course, showed that many adult Filipinos negatively reacted to the Senate inquiry into the supposed corruption of Mr. Binay and his political family. The inquiry would have had no bearing on Mr. Binay had it stayed out of the headlines. But the newspapers had no choice but to adjust the fonts after every hearing on the “Parkinggate.” Corruption stories sell newspapers and fulfill the earnest ambition of newspaper editors to bring popular politicians down to earth with screaming headlines on sleaze.