I take issue with Winnie Monsod

Sabi ni Mareng Winnie:

I ask the reader's pardon for going off on a tangent at this point, but it is an important one: On the basis of the results of the two major surveys in the run-up to the elections, of the exit polls conducted not only by the Social Weather Stations but by media organizations, and of the statements of the Catholic bishops who were closely monitoring the situation in their respective dioceses, it has to be clear that Ms Arroyo won last year's presidential elections; she did not steal the position. That she cheated and lied is still to be resolved, but then, cheating and lying seem endemic in the political game.

I'm sorry, but I find it difficult to trust the three survey firms (SWS, Pulse, NFO Trends) for letting Mercy Abad's people do all the data gathering and polling work for them during the election campaign.

Eto yung post ko dati, dated April 27, 2004:

Did you know that Mercy Abad's people are responsible for doing all the interviews and data gathering for 3 differenent "independent" Surveys firms: SWS, Pulse Asia and NFO Trends

Scary huh?

You'd think that these different survey groups would have their OWN people conducting interviews and collect data just like ANY OTHER SURVEY GROUPS in the world like Gallup, Zogby, Rasmussen, FOXNEWS.

Pero hindi eh. SWS and Pulse Asia are totally dependent on Mercy Abad's organization. And Mercy also owns NFO Trends.

Here's more on Mercy Abad and her connections with SWS and Pulse.

You of all people Solita Monsod, SHOULD know that since ikaw ang nagsabi na SWS and PULSE are both dependent on Mercy Abad's people to gather data.

Of course, sinabi mo rin na "trustworthy" si Mercy Abad, and coming from a pro-Arroyo person like you (even if you claim that you are not), that means kabaligtaran yan ng katotohanan.

(And here's a look back at the SWS Exit Poll fiasco. Basahin nyo yung comment ni Dick Morris doon.

Ellen Tordesillas provides more details.)

as for media organizations' surveys, they rely on SWS, PULSE and NFO Trends surveys too, Ms. Monsod... unless you consider those radio "exit polls" as "scientific" and "credible". Para mo na ring sinabi na "mapagkakatiwalaan" at "scientific" ang mga Debate text message surveys.

at sabi rin raw ng simbahan na "credible" ang nakaraang presidential elections. Yah, katulad rin yan ng sinabi nung NAMFREL na "absolutely credible" raw ang presidential elections.

At hindi lahat ng major surveys ay nagsasabi na nanalo si Arroyo. Yung Ibon surveys conducted before (released apr 30, 2004) and after the elections show FPJ winning. And I don't think they relied on Mercy Abad to do polling work for them.

Sabi pa ni Winnie:

And a tangent to the tangent, because it is still possible to do this now: After the 1992 elections, disturbed by charges that Fidel V. Ramos had stolen the election from Miriam Santiago, then-chair Christian Monsod of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) allowed a panel of experts to review the results, including Comelec data. Their main finding was that there was evidence of cheating affecting both sides, but these tended to cancel one another and did not materially affect the outcome of the elections.

Ya sure, FPJ "cheated" too, or else Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would have "won" by wider margin of 8-9%, according to the fake president herself.

UPDATE: Mareng Winnie: GMA is the REAL president!