Pulse Asia: 3 of 5 Pinoys oppose Cha-cha, removing presidential term limit

(Updated 9:04 a.m.) Roughly three out of five Filipinos do not want the 1987 Constitution amended at this time, though nearly half of them are open to having it amended sometime in the future, according to a new survey by pollster Pulse Asia.

The survey conducted from September 8 to 15 also showed 62 percent of Filipinos do not want the Charter amended to allow a second term for President Benigno Aquino III.

“For 62 percent of Filipinos, there is no need to amend the 1987 Constitution at the present time—with 32 percent opposed to Charter change at any other time and 30 percent being open to charter change at some future time,” it said.

Also, it noted opposition to Charter change now is the majority sentiment in each geographic area at 61 to 68 percent and socio-economic grouping from 56 to 65 percent.

In contrast, about 20 percent of Filipinos said the Constitution should be amended now, while 18 percent “can’t say” if the Charter should be amended at this time.

The survey also showed 62 percent of Filipinos are not in favor of President Benigno Aquino III running for the presidency after his term ends in 2016.

“Around six in 10 Filipinos (62%) are not in favor of President Benigno S. Aquino III running again for the presidency after his term ends in 2016, that is, should the 1987 Constitution be amended to allow for the re-election of an incumbent chief executive,” Pulse Asia said.

Under the present Constitution, the president is entitled to only one six-year term.

In August, Aquino said he was now open to amending the 1987 Constitution to limit the judiciary’s reach on the executive and the legislature.

In a television interview, Aquino said the present Charter—which was drafted and approved early during the term of his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino—does not balance the powers of the three government branches.

Against second term for PNoy

The Pulse Asia survey said that when the people were asked if they are in favor of Aquino running for president again should the Constitution be amended and the president be allowed to run again, 62 percent answered they were not in favor while only 38 percent said they were.

The opposition to Aquino running again for the presidency was the sentiment of 67 percent in Metro Manila, 71 percent in Balance Luzon, 52 percent in Mindanao and 50 percent in Visayas; and 63 percent in Class ABC, 65 percent in Class E and 61 percent in Class D.

Those in favor of Aquino running again included 50 percent of those in the Visayas, 48 percent in Mindanao, 33 percent in Metro Manila and 29 percent in Balance Luzon; and 37 percent of Class ABC, 39 percent of Class D, and 35 percent of Class E.

Awareness of Cha-cha proposals

Pulse Asia’s survey showed 61 percent of Filipinos are aware of proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution, although 46 percent admit knowing little about the Charter.

Only 39 percent of Filipinos were aware of proposals to amend the Charter “only now.”

It said higher awareness was noted in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, and in Class ABC.

When asked about their knowledge of the Constitution, only 30 percent answered “a great deal” or “sufficient” – with four percent saying they know “a great deal” and 26 percent saying “not a great deal but a sufficient amount.”

Some 70 percent said they had little to no knowledge – about 46 percent saying they have a little knowledge and 24 percent saying almost none to no knowledge at all.

Of the 61 percent aware of proposals to amend the Constitution, 42 percent said they had a “great deal” to “sufficient” knowledge, including seven percent saying they know “a great deal” and 35 percent who said they know “a sufficient amount.”

Some 58 percent said they had little to no knowledge, including 55 percent who said they had a little knowledge and three percent saying they had almost none or no knowledge at all.

Higher opposition levels

Of the Filipinos aware of proposals to amend the Constitution, Pulse Asia noted a “higher level of opposition” at 70 percent.

This includes 34 percent who said it may be amended in the future, and 36 percent completely opposing proposed Charter change regardless of the timing.

Pulse Asia also noted less indecision among those aware of Charter change proposals at eight percent.

But it added that of those who claim to have a “great deal” or “sufficient” knowledge about the Constitution, there was a higher level of support for Charter change now at 28 percent and amending it at some other time at 37 percent.

“Indecision on the matter of charter change is less pronounced in this sub-grouping compared to Filipinos in general (4 versus 18 percent),” it said.

Support for Cha-cha eased

At the national level, Pulse Asia said support fot Charter change at this time eased by 20 percentage points between October 2010 and September 2014.

It also said levels of support declined by 16 to 23 percentage points in geographic areas, and 20 to 21 percentage points in Classes D and E.

But there is a 14-percentage point increase in the overall level of opposition to Charter change at this time or any other time.

“Complete opposition to charter change (i.e., now and in the future) becomes more notable in the rest of Luzon and the Visayas (+19 to +22 percentage points) and in Classes ABC and D (+14 to +18 percentage points),” it said.

At the same time, the survey noted an eight-percentage point decline in the overall level of opposition to Charter change now but openness to it in the future between October 2010 and September 2014.

As for indecision on Charter change now, Pulse Asia said this became more marked at the national level with a 14-percentage point rise and a rise by 14 to 20 percentage points in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, and 14 to 18 percentage points in Classes D and E.

Proposals to limit SC powers

Pulse Asia said 70 percent of Filipinos reject proposals to limit the powers of the Supreme Court to review the Executive Branch’s decisions.

“Majority levels of opposition are recorded across geographic areas and socio-economic groupings (62 to 79 percent and 63 to 72 percent respectively),” it said.

Only 30 percent of Filipinos are in favor of limiting the high court’s power of judicial review.

Also, 85 percent opposed proposals to let foreign individuals and companies own residential and industrial lands in the country.

Opposition registered from 83 to 89 percent among geographic areas and 81 to 86 percent among socio-economic classes.

Only 15 percent support foreign ownership of residential and industrial lands in the country.

Methodology

The nationwide survey interviewed 1,200 people aged 18 and up, and has a ± 3% error margin at the 95-percent confidence level.

Subnational estimates for geographic areas including Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao have a ± 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level.

At the time the survey was taken, the following issues topped the headlines:

• the ongoing Senate investigation into reported overpricing in the Makati CityHall Building II. Witnesses claimed the bidding was rigged.
• Albay Gov. Jose Salceda suggested that Vice President Binay be impeached over corruption charges in connection with the alleged overpricing.
• junking of three impeachment complaints against President Benigno Aquino III, which were found insufficient in substance.
• the 90-day suspension slapped on Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile emanating from the alleged P10-billion pork barrel mess.
• arrest of the suspects in a foiled “bombing attempt” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 Sept. 1.
• confirmation of Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. as Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff.
• President Aquino’s request to Congress for emergency powers so he can address an impending energy crisis in 2015.
• the transmittal of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress
• calls for the resignation of Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima over crimes involving policemen and President Aquino’s expression of trust in him.
• a reported statement by Vice President Binay regarding his preference for trader Manuel Pangilinan as his running mate in May 2016.
• talks of a second term for President Aquino.
• Catholic Church leaders’ preparations for Pope Francis’ visit in January.
• public uproar against the construction of a condominium tower in Manila that threatens to ruin the view of the Rizal Monument.
• oath-taking of Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza as the newest member of the Supreme Court.
• President Aquino’s visit to Europe and the United States.
• port congestion in Manila.
• continuing woes experienced by passengers of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3.

— Joel Locsin/RSJ/KG, GMA News