Wednesday, May 02, 2007 Editorial: Those surveys again
SURVEYS are always being splashed about in the front pages of dailies and in the TV and radio news broadcasts and depending on whichever side of the political fence you belong to, the results are either accurate or grossly inaccurate or faulty and so on ad nauseum.
The latest survey by Pulse Asia is an example with seven opposition figures, five administration candidates, and two independents making it on the Magic 12 circle of winners. That appears to be the most balanced distribution of winners so far unless it got rigged of course and the group insisted that the survey wasn't commissioned but it was done on their own.
So, how does one make of this survey which comes two weeks before the actual voting process? As usual the Palace dismisses the results as being mere
GO or Genuine Opposition propaganda while the other camp apparently became upbeat and said it will continually campaign for a 12-0 sweep of the national elections come May 14.
But that's the same line used by the Palace when it saw results of a survey by Social Weather Station (SWS), which showed that more Team Unity (TU) candidates are rising up the ranks to the Magic 12.
However, a same survey they commissioned showed that six GO bets landed in the circle of winners, with four TU aspirants in the circle and two independents making it as well.
The latest survey showed that former army officer Gregorio Honasan and Bukidnon legislator Juan Miguel Zubiri landed in the circle of 12, though their positions are considered precarious since only the top nine are assured more or less of a winner's chance to make it to the top 12. Though Zubiri's inclusion may cheer up some Mindanaoans who want to place more of their own in the Senate.
What is still not understood is whether the ban on surveys as implied by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is in effect or whether an order had been issued for this purpose in the first place. As shown by the latest reports from the national media apparently this had not been realized.
Which is why Cabinet officials like Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales is forced to make the ridiculous and illegal move to buy votes from barangay officials in order to ensure victory for TU candidates in Iloilo province alone. The mediocre showing of TU candidates may force the administration to resort to "Garci" tactics just to win.
This is where the citizenry can help stop the cheating and ensure that the elections are clean, peaceful and orderly.
