Pulse Asia won’t stop surveys on impeachment

Pulse Asia will not stop conducting surveys on the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, an official of the polling firm said yesterday. In a text message to The

STAR, Ana Maria Luna-tabunda, Pulse Asia chief research fellow, said it is their duty to inform government authorities and society in general of the people’s opinions.

“We believe it is important to monitor public opinion on

issues as crucial to public interest and welfare as the impeachment trial,” she said.

“We will continue to do our surveys, we invoke our right and the people’s rights to freedom of expression,” she said.

Pulse Asia is expected to release a new survey on the impeachment trial of Corona in May.

Last month, Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago lambasted students of the University of the Philippines- Diliman for conducting a survey on the impeachment trial of Corona.

The Pulse Asia survey, conducted from Feb. 26 to March 9, showed that almost half of the population think Corona is guilty of the charges against him.

On Tuesday, senators said the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey would not affect their judgment.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said if surveys would be used to convict or acquit a person charged in court, then courts are no longer needed.

“All we have to do is conduct surveys whenever somebody is charged,” he said.

“I will decide on it according to the evidence and nothing more,” he said.

The Supreme Court (SC) has downplayed the survey, and described it as “premature.”

SC spokesman Midas Marquez said the public had a one-sided view of the case because they had not heard the defense of Corona when Pulse Asia interviewed them.

Meanwhile, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo doubts the truthfulness of the results of surveys related to the impeachment trial of Corona.