Comelec: Pollsters can go to SC

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday that unless pollsters manage to get Supreme Court (SC) intervention, they must disclose the names of subscribers of their pre-election surveys.

In an interview, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. shrugged off the pollsters’ argument that such a requirement is unconstitutional.

“They can go up to the Supreme Court, there’s no problem with that. But until it is declared unconstitutional, our rule should apply and they have to comply,” he maintained.

Prior to the May 13 polls, the Comelec had ordered the Social Weather Stations (SWS), Pulse Asia and other survey firms to report to the Comelec those who subscribed to their pre-election surveys.

According to Brillantes, no one among the survey firms had complied with the order. The Comelec will be issuing a resolution reminding them of this requirement.

The order stemmed from the complaint filed by the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) with the Comelec on the voter’s preference survey conducted last February.

Senatorial candidates from the administration-led Team PNoy topped the survey. 

During a hearing on UNA’s petition, representatives from SWS and Pulse Asia claimed that they are not required by law to divulge subscribers.

The Comelec argued that the poll body has jurisdiction over election-related surveys since candidates and political parties could use the pre-election surveys to influence voters.