SWS warns public vs fake pre-election surveys

MANILA, Philippines — The Social Weather Stations (SWS) has warned the public against the proliferation of “false” pre-election surveys leading up to the May 2019 polls.

“SWS also recognizes that with the coming May 2019 elections, many surveys on preferences for national and local positions are being conducted by various groups. Some of these groups are legitimate, while others are not,” the SWS said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday night.

“Everyone is enjoined to rely on the SWS website www.sws.org.ph, for its advisories, announcements and reports released to the public,” it said.

The SWS noted that when on fieldwork, its interviewers wear a valid identification card that clearly shows the logo and name of SWS, the interviewer’s name and signature, validity period of the ID and name and signature of the survey outfit.

It urged people who wish to verify the authenticity of SWS interviewers to contact its lone office located at 52 Malingap Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City.

SWS said it has no other office aside from the one in Quezon City. 

Earlier, senatorial candidate Larry Gadon asked the Commission on Elections to stop the release of pre-election survey results, which he branded as “biased.”

In reaction to the petition filed by Gadon, Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said the release of pre-election survey results is part of the organization’s advocacy to share relevant findings with the public.