The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded that there was no violation from any survey firms, even though it was only a few days before the election.
This was explained by Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez Tuesday, after being asked about Section 5.4 of the Fair Elections Act (Republic Act 9006), which prohibits it.
“Surveys affecting national candidates shall not be published fifteen (15) days before an election, and surveys affecting local candidates shall not be published seven (7) days before an election,” it said.
“No. The provision being cited — Sec. 5.4 of RA 9006 — was struck down by the Supreme Court for being unconstitutional,” Jimenez answered a netizen’s question this morning.
On May 2, Pulse Asia released its last pre-election survey, which showed that presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was lame. So – it’s only been seven days since the election.
It will be recalled that the Social Weather Stations (SWS) won its case against the Comelec after the Supreme Court upheld the former. He said Section 5.4 of RA 9006 is unconstitutional and a violation of the right to the press.
Comelec: Release of surveys 15 days before elections legal
Some have long questioned pre-election surveys because of allegations of “mind conditioning” of public opinion.
The group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) and Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women criticize the recently released Pulse Asia survey, especially since some statisticians and academics have questioned the group’s methodology and metrics.
“Sa resulta ng Pulse Asia, sabi nito ay may resulta sa class ABC, samantalang wala naman silang respondents na class AB,” SAID Zen Soriano, spokesperson of Amihan.
“At sino itong class E na 57% o mahigit na 300 na pumapabor kay Marcos Jr.? Samantalang mga magsasaka pa lang na nagpoprotesta laban sa kanya sa buong bansa dahil sa pahamak na programa ng kanyang ama na Masagana 99, ay libu-libo na. Kaya hindi kami naniniwalang wastong larawan ito ng botante sa bansa, wala itong pinagkaiba sa fake news.”
Some academics, such as UP Political Science Professor Aries Arugay, have also spoken out against the Pulse Asia method, which some social scientists have already agreed to.
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