House of Representatives Expresses Displeasure over Survey Results on Charter Change
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives, a key player in the initiatives to amend the 1987 Constitution, reacted strongly to a recent Pulse Asia survey that revealed three out of four Filipinos were against Charter change (Cha-cha).
House Deputy Speaker David Suarez and Majority Floor Leader Manuel Dalipe raised concerns about the survey’s methodology, suggesting that biased and leading questions may have influenced the outcome.
The survey, conducted from March 6 to March 10 and released on Wednesday, indicated that 72 percent of respondents were aware of efforts to amend the Constitution, with 88 percent opposing any changes to the Charter.
Of those surveyed, 74 percent believed that the Constitution should not be amended at any time, with only 6 percent supporting amendments under the current administration. The remaining 8 percent expressed a preference for amendments in the next administration.
This survey came after the House passed Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH 7), which aims to relax restrictions on foreign ownership in public utilities, educational institutions, and the advertising industry.
Suarez criticized the wording of the survey questions for potentially biasing respondents towards certain views on Charter amendments. He suggested that the questions did not accurately reflect the proposed amendments being discussed in Congress.
Moreover, he insinuated that the survey could be part of a “smear campaign” to undermine efforts to amend the Constitution, a sentiment echoed by Dalipe.
Dalipe questioned the inclusion of unrelated questions in the survey, noting that such questions only served to confuse and mislead the public. He emphasized that the final decision on proposed amendments would be made through a plebiscite, not surveys.
While the House aims to push for a plebiscite on RBH 7 before Congress adjourns on May 25, the Senate has maintained that there is no rush to amend the Constitution, setting the stage for a potential clash between the two chambers.
