When results of a survey do not jibe with the expected outcome of those that commissioned the study, they would naturally draw a loud outcry from the sector/group that paid for it, regardless if the outcome tends to reflect the real sentiments of those not covered by the survey.
This is what is happening to the survey of Pulse Asia – which during the campaigns for midterm or national elections are heavily- depended upon by candidates – to brainwash the electorate about their popularity or those of their achievements and programs.
But not this time, as Pulse Asia showed that 88 percent of Filipinos are against changing the country’s charter.
Pulse Asia has been existing for 20 years.
When the results reflect what they want to know or jibe with their self-perception of reality, then those that commissioned the study would praise and defend the survey company.
Otherwise, they would staunchly deny and question the outcome to discredit the result, if these do not concur with their illusions and delusions.
There are only two sectors that could have sponsored such Pulse Asia study: the business community– which spoke the loudest in favor of economic revisions for the chacha and politicians in Congress, who vociferously salivate for such charter change– despite touting that only economic provisions would be covered and nothing political (or term extensions which they lust for with their whole lives).
Pulse Asia stood by its results after members of the House of Representatives cast doubts on the methods used in the poll. See what I mean.
And I admire Representative France Castro for voicing out her fear of an “orchestrated move” to discredit the Pulse Asia survey and to distort the reality of public sentiment against charter change.
‘Biased,’ ‘leading’ survey questions?
Pulse Asia president Ronaldo Holmes explained to ABS-CBN News that they started asking respondents whether they favored Charter change in general and what specific changes they propose.
The survey came out days after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 that will relax stringent economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, in hopes of attracting more foreign direct investments into the country, the Star reported.
House members who have been pushing for chacha raised objections to discredit the survey, accusing the firm of using “biased and leading questions that may have influenced the results.”
“This Pulse Asia survey is riddled with questions and scenarios that spread fear among Filipinos about chacha. By this reason alone, the survey results are invalid, unfair, and inapplicable to the current situation,” said House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre.
He was citing questions that delved on “term extensions” for public officials, changing the “unitary to a federal system of government,” from “presidential to parliamentary,” shifting from “bicameral to unicameral” Congress and allowing foreigners to “exploit our natural resources.”
Deputy Speaker David Suarez stressed the importance of public awareness and engagement in the discourse on constitutional reform to ensure that the proposed amendments align with the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people.
“By focusing on the economic provisions and clarifying misconceptions, proponents can work towards garnering broader support for targeted constitutional amendments that will benefit all Filipinos,” he said.
Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe clarified that the proposed economic amendment is not aimed at consolidating power or extending terms but rather at creating a conducive environment for economic growth and development.
Assistant Majority Leaders Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol party-list, Paolo Ortega V of La Union, and Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur pointed out that the survey questions appeared to conflate various aspects of constitutional reform, potentially leading to confusion among respondents, the Star said.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #PulseAsiaSurvey