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Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Palace slams 'one-sided' Charter change survey
MANILA -- Malacañang on Monday branded a Social Weather Stations (SWS) third quarter survey showing more Filipinos rejecting constitutional amendments as "downright misleading" and "biased."
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said some of the questions were "downright misleading."
Sun.Star Network Online round-by-round coverage of the Pacquiao-Morales Sunday fight here
Bunye said certain questions, such as the one about extending President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's term beyond 2010, are not part of proposed Charter amendments and "tended to unduly influence the respondents". He said the President will not run for parliament.
"The slanted or biased questions, we believe, violate the basic rules of survey research," he said, adding that the use of such questions was "improper" and "uncalled for."
While he said Malacañang is not questioning the integrity of the SWS survey, Bunye said the Palace is questioning the survey method, particularly the phrasing of the questions.
He said there were "extraneous elements" in some of the questions.
He said the SWS survey questions implied that Charter change is being undertaken to enable the President to extend her term.
The September 24 to October 2 survey, which had 1,200 respondents, showed that 67 percent of Filipinos would still vote "No" if a plebiscite to approve a proposed new Constitution were held today. It said only 29 percent of Filipinos would approve a proposed new Constitution.
The survey also found out that:
* Seven out of 10 (69 percent) reject the idea of allowing President Arroyo to become head of government even after 2010, up from 44 percent recorded in March 2006.
* Half (51 percent) oppose the idea of having a unicameral Congress, up from 38 percent in March.
* Majority (68 percent) reject the idea of holding the next elections in 2010 and extending the terms of all officials, compared to 50 percent in March.
* About 65 percent oppose the idea of letting the head of government be elected by legislators instead of directly by voters, up from 56 percent in March.
* Two out of five (43 percent) oppose the reduction of restrictions on foreign participation in the economy, compared to 25 percent in March.
Bunye said the ruling coalition is on the "final lap" of its move to convene a Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass). He said the Palace is looking forward to dialogues between the Senate and the House of Representatives to end the Upper Chamber's objections to holding an assembly.
"Bold leadership to cross the bridge to the future is the call of the times, and we ask our leaders to seize the moment and not let the opportunity pass," he said.
The second tranche of the three-part caucus among majority congressmen took place after dinner Monday in Malacañang. The first caucus was held last Thursday. Another caucus was scheduled Tuesday.
Congressmen are planning the final push to beat the December 20 deadline for convening the assembly.
"We will push through with Charter change. This is the platform commitment of the President. Now that the option is narrowed down we are pushing Charter change through the next available move which is Con-Ass," Bunye said. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (November 28, 2006 issue)
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