Shift in Perspective on Election Surveys
1-Rider Party-list Representative Rodge Gutierrez openly shared his changing outlook on surveys following the May 12 midterm elections. He admitted on Tuesday, May 27, that his trust in survey results has lessened after observing the actual election outcomes. “Prior to the elections, I did believe in surveys, but after the election, we saw the results—doon po tayo nagkakaroon ng (that’s when I had), you know,” Gutierrez told reporters during an informal interview.
When directly asked if the recent survey findings influenced his view, the House impeachment prosecutor responded, “Personally, yes.”
Gutierrez, who is also part of the House “Young Guns” bloc, reflected on the results of the recent “Pulso ng Bayan” survey conducted between May 6 and 9. The survey sampled 1,200 registered voters and revealed that 50 percent disagreed with filing an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. Meanwhile, 28 percent supported the complaint, and 21 percent remained undecided. The margin of error for the survey stands at ±2.8 percentage points.
Survey Accuracy Questioned After Senate Race Results
The party-list representative also addressed the perceived failure of various survey firms to predict the Senate race winners accurately. This discrepancy has sparked widespread discussion.
“Nakita rin po natin kung anong resulta ng survey sa ating senatorial election. Surprised, No. 2 Senator [Bam] Aquino, and we also have Senator [Kiko] Pangilinan among others. So iyon, I really take surveys with a pinch of salt right now,” Gutierrez remarked.
(We also saw the survey results for our senatorial election. Surprised, No. 2 Senator [Bam] Aquino, and we also have Senator [Kiko] Pangilinan among others. So with that, I really take surveys with a pinch of salt right now.)
Despite his skepticism, Gutierrez stopped short of accusing Pulse Asia of bias regarding the Pulso ng Bayan survey. “I won’t say biased. Supposedly there is some statistical reasoning behind it,” he added.
Gutierrez’s evolving perspective highlights a broader debate about the reliability of election surveys and their impact on public opinion. His comments suggest a cautious approach towards survey results amid fluctuating political landscapes.
For more news and updates on election surveys, visit Filipinokami.com.