Pollsters’ predicament

THEIR avowed professional service is to only come out with the facts and report them as expressed by socioeconomic representative Filipinos in opinion surveys.

But we all know facts sometimes hurt. That is when the problem begins.

So how do you console the unsettling composure of Malacanang whose main occupant is restless over recent disturbing survey findings which are, obviously, not to his liking?

No amount of soothing findings in other polls like the President’s popularity is still above 60 percent, and 80 percent of Filipinos are satisfied with the way democracy works in the country.

For the first time, Palace spokesperson Ernesto Abella earlier labeled the findings as “inaccurate” as they were obtained by fielding “leading and pointed questions.”

Specifically, what caused the President”s displeasure?

No. 1. That 63 percent of 1,200 Pinoys surveyed did not believe that those killed by police during illegal drug operations fought with the raiding lawmen.

No. 2. In the June 23-26 survey, 60 percent of those asked – 3 out of 5 – said only poor people were being killed.

Any hardened Duterte supporter would readily throw those data to the dust bin.

Similarly, some sectors in the opposition (the Church, academe, minority members of both Houses of Congress, some media establishments) were quick to go to town with the insinuation that the above survey results “are clear indication of the mal-administration of the Duterte government.”

One interesting note that this corner can’t help but highlight: A couple of days after the No. 1 negative data above came out in media, the United Nations Asian Forum for Human Rights which was holding a meeting in Iceland issued a scathing statement pillorying the Philippines, thus:

Investigate alleged Extra Judicial Killings and protect human rights defenders.

The call was signed by the 39 member- countries of the Asia Forum. There is that inevitable suspicion that the group was furnished advanced copies of the above survey findings.”

Meanwhile, last Tuesday Director General Ronaldo de la Rosa of the Philippine National Police, in an on-the-spot interview said, he will not dispute the findings of the Social Weather Stations.

“I would not blame the people for having such a perception since the reality dictates that there are more poor people who are into pushing drugs,” he said.

In that case, can’t the government fight poverty instead?