HOUSE leaders on Sunday strongly criticized a recent survey showing that majority of respondents oppose Charter amendments, suspecting it may be part of black propaganda aimed at undermining efforts to amend the restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution.
At the same time, House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe of Zamboanga City, Deputy Speaker David “Jay-jay” Suarez, and Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin of Iloilo called for a focus on empowering Filipinos to decide on constitutional amendments through a plebiscite rather than relying solely on surveys.
Dalipe, Suarez, and Garin were reacting to the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey indicating that 74 percent of respondents believe that the 1987 Constitution “should not be amended now nor any other time.”
However, the three House leaders raised about the survey’s integrity and purpose, as it contained questions that are not currently under consideration in Congress.
Dalipe condemned the inclusion of “irrelevant” questions in the survey, including term extension for national and local elective officials, change of the presidential system to a parliamentary system of government, and shift from bicameral to a unicameral legislature.
“Why include questions that people don’t want and are not related to the ongoing process in Congress? Is this black propaganda?” Dalipe asked.
The survey results were released just a week after the House of Representatives approved on final reading Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH 7), which aims to amend specific economic constitutional provisions related to public utilities, education, and advertising.
RBH 7 has been sent to the Senate for deliberation. However, at the subcommittee level, the Senate is also examining a similar resolution known as RBH 6.
Suarez expressed frustration with the survey’s apparent attempt to derail the constitutional reform process.
“Including unrelated questions in the survey only serves to confuse and mislead the public,” Suarez asserted, calling for a more objective approach in future surveys.
Garin expressed disappointment with the survey’s perceived attempt to sway public opinion.
“Surveys should reflect the real concerns of the people, not push a particular agenda,” Garin said, adding that surveys should accurately reflect ongoing legislative discussions.
Meanwhile, Dalipe said “the best way to gauge public opinion on Cha-cha is through a plebiscite, not surveys.”
