Palace hits SWS’ ‘leading, pointed’ questions in survey on slain drug suspects

The Social Weather Stations’ recent survey on slain drug suspects seemed to have leading and pointed questions, a Malacañang official said Wednesday.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the SWS’ questions could have influenced their respondents.

“It seems the 2nd Quarter Social Weather Stations (SWS) Survey contains leading and pointed questions that may have unduly influenced the answers of respondents,” he said.

Abella then listed the questions he was referring to.

• Marami sa mga pinatay ng mga pulis sa kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga ay hindi totoong nanlaban sa pulis.

• Marami sa mga pinatay ng mga pulis sa kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga ay hindi naman talaga mga nagtutulak ng droga o pusher.

• Marami ang nagsisinungaling at itinuturo ang kanilang mga personal na mga kaaway bilang drug user/pusher para mabigyang dahilan na patayin ang mga taong ito ng mga pulis o vigilante.

In its Second Quarter survey conducted on June 23-26, 2017, SWS asked Filipino adults if they agreed or disagreed with the statement: Marami sa mga pinatay ng mga pulis sa kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga ay hindi totoong nanlaban sa pulis.

Over half or 54 percent agreed, with 20 percent saying they strongly agree. Meanwhile, 25 percent of the respondents were undecided and the remaining 20% disagreed.

“We expect pollsters to exercise prudence and objectivity to arrive at a closer approximation of public sentiment,” Abella said. — Trisha Macas/RSJ/KVD, GMA News