Comelec reminds pollsters to submit names of subscribers

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded survey firms yesterday to comply with the agency’s resolution to submit the names of the subscribers of their pre-election surveys.

In an ambush interview, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said survey firms should submit a report lest they be held liable for election offense.

“They are supposed to comply…if they were not able to get a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court,” he said.

The Comelec had ordered pollsters to identify the subscribers of their pre-election surveys after the United Nationalist Alliance complained about the voter’s preference survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS), which was topped by the senatorial candidates of Team PNoy.

But in a hearing, the representatives of SWS and Pulse Asia said they are not required by law to make such a disclosure.

Brillantes, however, said that since the surveys involved the elections, the poll body should know if they were sponsored, commissioned or subscribed to by political parties, politicians or candidates.

He expressed concern that surveys are becoming a tool for candidates to influence the voters.

“There is a criminal liability… This is an election offense... We can bring their case to our law department for preliminary investigation,” he said.