By Herbie Gomez
A SENIOR researcher at the Jesuitun Xavier University (XU) yesterday frowned over allegations that election survey results released this week by her fellow academics were rigged.
Dr. Chona Patricia Echavez, a senior associate at the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture (Rimcu), said she can vouch for the data collectors and their head at the Xavier University-Kinaadman Research Center.
“Ethics in research is practiced by XU,” said Echavez.
Echavez, who is out of the country, was not involved in the recent Kinaadman survey but she said she personally knows the man who led the data collection, and “as I said, I can vouch that he will not manipulate data.”
She said she also gave some of the data collectors a thorough training when her group did sampling and selection of the households during a poll survey years ago. The results, she said, had a 99-percent batting average vis-à-vis the election results.
“I cannot guarantee that all of my data collectors are involved [in the recent survey] but I know of a few… the one who headed the data collection, as I said, I can vouch that he will not manipulate data. The data were turned over to Kinaadaman door analysis. I would say, they will not put [their] honor at stake to manipulate the data. As a researcher, that is my take,” Echavez said.
XU-Kinaadman has yet to respond to accusations made by brothers Reps. Rufus and Maximo Rodriguez Jr., and Councilor Lourdes Darimbang that the research center’s election survey was designed to favor reelectionist Mayor Oscar Moreno and his group.
The Rodriguez brothers are seeking the mayoral post and the congressional seat in the 2nd District while Darimbang is a candidate for congresswoman in the 1st District.
The results of the April 25-April 26 Kinaadman survey showed Moreno taking a wide lead, and all his candidates for the two congressional seats, the vice mayoral post, and two bets for city council seats on top.
The Moreno group’s challengers alleged that the Kinaadman survey group conspired with a candidate for councilor in the administration party ticket to manipulate the results of the survey. (herbie gomez)
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