‘Concerted effort’ seen vs poll nixing Cha-cha

France Castro PHOTO FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro on Sunday observed a concerted effort to discredit the Pulse Asia survey, which showed that nearly 90 percent of Filipinos opposed Charter change (Cha-cha), even as more chamber leaders spoke out against the supposed “malicious” survey.

In a statement, the ACT Teachers party list representative maintained the validity of the poll findings “as the initial questions posed in the survey clearly indicate a binary choice regarding support or opposition to Cha-cha.”

READ: House disputes survey on anti-Cha-cha majority

“This is a reflection of the strong public sentiment against any moves to change the Constitution,” she said.

Valid

The lawmaker added that the inclusion of questions on political amendments in the survey was valid.

“It reflects the potential scope of changes that could be made through the Cha-cha process,” Castro said.

Responding to claims by Cha-cha proponents that the Pulse Asia survey was part of a smear campaign, Castro said, “Such allegations can also be directed toward pro-Cha-cha proponents and the survey they conducted,” referring to the survey by marketing research firm Tangere, which claimed that 52 percent of Filipinos favored Cha-cha.

READ: 52% of Filipinos for Cha-cha, House claims

However, lawmakers who promote the Tangere survey did not release the survey methodology data that reputable pollsters ordinarily provide as part of best scientific practice.

Transparency essential

“It is essential to have transparency in terms of survey methodologies, such as sampling, commissioning party, timing, concurrent events, demographic information of respondents, survey location, and other relevant data,” the lawmaker said.

Castro stressed the need for a genuine and inclusive consultation process to ensure that any proposed changes to the Constitution truly reflect the collective interests and welfare of the country.

Meanwhile, House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre slammed the seemingly “malicious” questions that Pulse Asia posed in its March 6 to March 10 survey to gauge Filipinos’ stand on Cha-cha.

According to Acidre, “The latest Pulse Asia survey utterly failed to highlight what the heart and soul of our discussions in the House of Representatives regarding the bid to amend the 1987 Constitution; that is, to have a laser-focus on just economic-themed amendments.”

Key data disclosed

“This Pulse Asia survey is riddled with questions and scenarios that spread fear among Filipinos about Cha-cha. By this reason alone, the survey results are invalid, unfair, and inapplicable to the current situation,” Acidre said.

The Tingog party list representative also cited queries in the survey pertaining to term extensions for national and local elective officials; a shift from a bicameral to a unicameral legislature; a change from a presidential system of government to a parliamentary; and change from the present unitary system to a federal system of government.

“For Pulse Asia to even ask these questions is malicious since it gives the impression that House members had planned these political amendments all along while only publicly selling the merits of economic Cha-cha,” Acidre said.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe condemned the inclusion of “irrelevant” questions in the survey, saying, “Why include questions that people don’t want and are not related to the ongoing process in Congress? Is this black propaganda?” INQ