DAVAO City — Supporters of former presidential special assistant Christopher Lawrence Go cheered over the false information released by his own group that he has “surged to break into the top three slots” in the latest survey on the senatorial race that was allegedly done by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). But SWS president Mahar Mangahas said it is not theirs.
Mangahas said what is not posted on the SWS website is not theirs. The alleged “SWS survey” is not posted on the SWS website.
According to a press release issued by Go’s camp, the survey, allegedly conducted Feb. 25-28, 2019, “showed Go receiving the approval of 47 percent of the respondents to claim solo third place” and that “this reflects a continuous improvement from his 5th to 6th place ranking with 41 percent conducted by the same survey firm in January 23-26, 2019 and coming from a 15th-16th ranking back in December 2018.”
The alleged January 23-26 “SWS survey” is also not on the SWS website.
The Go press release issued Thursday included two alleged “SWS” tables showing the rankings of senatorial bets in January and February, with Go ranked 5-6 in January and 3 in February, after reelectionist Senators Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar.
Mangahas said it would be unethical for anyone to use anything that is not on the SWS website.
“Do not gratify propagandists who cannot back up their claims. Ask whoever released it to justify the release; whoever publishes something is legally bound to conform to Comelec full-disclosure rules on election survey publication,” he said.
Sought for comment, Go said on Thursday night: “Ask mo sino naglabas po.” (Ask who released it). When told that his camp released the survey results through a press release sent to reporters via e-mail and Viber group, his response: “No comment na ako. Nagpasalamat nako.”
In the press release his camp issued, Go thanked his supporters for trusting him.
The SWS posted on its website at 10:38 p.m. on March 7 a “Public Reminder” that it “again reminds the public that false reportage about SWS surveys is very common in the period leading up to an election.“
“Everyone is enjoined to rely only on the SWS website (www.sws.org..ph) for its advisories, announcements, and survey reports released to the public,” it said.
It noted that many surveys on preferences for national and local positions are being conducted by various groups in the run-up to the May 13 elections, that some of these groups are legitimate, while others are not.
It also warned that there are surveys being conducted by interviewers “falsely presenting themselves from SWS.”
It said SWS interviewers while on fieldwork “wear a valid ID which clearly shows the logo and name Social Weather Stations, the interviewer name and signature, validity period of the ID, and name and signature of an SWS officer.”
It urged those who want to verify the authenticity of SWS interviewers to contact their office at 02-9264308; 02-9244456; 02-9244465 and to look for Ms Josefina Tayactac, or through mobile pone 09999913518, fax number 02-9202181 or email sws_info@sws.org.ph. (Carolyn O. Arguillas of Mindanews)
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