Pulse Asia Research said the inclusion of questions on political provisions in the 1987 Constitution could not have influenced respondents’ answers in a survey that suggests few Filipinos support charter change.
A Pulse Asia survey released on March 27 said around three-fourths of Filipinos believe that the Constitution “should not be amended now or any other time.”
In a radio interview, political science professor Ronald Holmes said that their surveys on charter change since 2003 have included questionsabout previous proposals to amend the Constitution.
Reports said supporters of charter change have cast doubt on the survey results, claiming the inclusion of issues like term extension may have influenced respondents’ answers. But Holmes said that the first questions are on respondents’ awareness, self-assessed knowledge, and support for amending the constitution.
“Political questions were asked only after the general questions,” Holmes, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said. “It will not frame ‘yung response to the general question of whether they are in favor of constitutional change.”
Congressional leaders, as well as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., have said any proposed changes to the 1987 Constitution will only be on economic provisions said to be keeping foreign investors away, reports said.
Earlier, talk of charter change has raised concerns about term extensions, among others.
Earlier this week, presidential adviser Larry Gadon wrote Congress to suggest including term extensions, increasing the number of seats at the Senate, and shifting to a parliamentary form of government in their deliberations on charter change.
Senators were quick to shoot down Gadon’s suggestions.
Holmes stressed that issues like term extension were only asked after the general questions on charter change.
“It would be impossible for the question to affect the view — the general view — on whether the constitution needs changing,” Holmes said.