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Discrediting Pulse survey?
By Nidz Godino
"Initial questions posed in the survey clearly indicate binary choice regarding support or opposition to Cha-cha," survey result is reflection of strong public sentiment against any moves to change Constitution,"unlike most of her colleagues in House of Representatives, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro thinks Pulse Asia survey results on Charter change are "valid."
Castro said there might be "concerted effort" to discredit survey, showed 88 percent of Filipinos are against amending 1987 Constitution.
She noted that while some may argue that political amendments are irrelevant, it is important to acknowledge if constituent assembly were to convene, it would have authority to propose and approve amendments on various matters, including political and economic aspects.
"Thus, inclusion of political amendments in the survey is valid, as it reflects potential scope of changes that could be made through Cha-cha process," Castro said.
Lawmaker pointed out there could also be other potential amendments such as those related to martial law safeguards, foreign bases and armed forces and other provisions.
"Manner in which current mode of Cha-cha was pursued, through legislation, sets precedent for future attempts to amend or revise Constitution, potentially bypassing more rigorous processes," she added.
Castro made statement as some of her colleagues at the House questioned survey results, underscoring questions were "biased and leading."
Senators, on the other hand, said results of survey taken by reputable pollster showed no rush in pushing for Cha-cha at this time.
The head of Pulse Asia has defended survey methodology.
Congressmen, said absence of questions about merits of economic Charter change should also "enrage" senators since Senate's Resolution of Both Houses 6 and the House of Representatives' RBH7 are almost identical.
"Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and his fellow authors of RBH6 should be similarly enraged by Pulse Asia's framing of questions since it also made mockery of their measure," House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre said.
Zubiri, along with Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Sen. Sonny Angara, who also heads subcommittee on constitutional amendments, were authors of RBH6 aims to lift prohibitive economic provisions in 1987 Constitution.
Administration congressmen raised howl over manner survey questions were framed, with House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin observing reputable pollster made it like "chopsuey" where non-economic queries were raised, and included issues that were not taken up.
"It's chopsuey…questions should have been limited to economic Cha-cha only…conclusion that 75 percent reject Cha-cha is wrong, because they also polled that 75 percent said they were not aware and don't know Cha-cha…so, they should not have been asked in the first place, the way questions were drafted created problems or confusion… not the real truth, that is why this will result in a lot of confusion," Garin said, hinting there could have been a hand behind the survey results.
She also referred to queries that delved on "term extensions" for public officials, changing "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."
House Deputy Speaker David Suarez stressed importance of public awareness and engagement in the discourse on constitutional reform to ensure that proposed amendments align with needs and aspirations of Filipino people.
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