'Poll surveys undermining democratic processes'

By Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star)
Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=570454&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - Ang Kapatiran vice presidential candidate Dominador Chipeco Jr. yesterday criticized the political surveys being conducted by survey firms, which he said is undermining the democratic processes of the coming May 10 elections.

Speaking with The STAR editors and reporters, Chipeco said that with the election just two weeks away, voters are now having second thoughts whether to vote or not for their candidates who are trailing in the surveys being conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia.

“My supporters would now think twice if they will still vote (for) me because I am in the tail end of the surveys. They might say their vote is a waste because of the survey result,” he said.

Chipeco said that even educated and mature people are affected by the results of surveys and because of mind conditioning, the freedom to choose their own candidates is now jeopardized.

Ang Kapatiran accepts ABS-CBN's apology

By Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star)

Link: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=566934&publicationSubCategoryId=63

MANILA, Philippines - The Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP) has accepted the letter of apology from television network ABS-CBN for not including its vice presidential bet in the March 21 episode of “Harapan: Vice Presidential Debate” held at La Consolacion College in Manila.

In a letter to AKP president Eric Manalang, Maria Ressa, head of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, said it was not their intention to overlook the AKP and they are planning to invite them to other episodes of Harapan as well as other venues for the party’s message to reach the people.

“We assure AKP of our commitment to provide political parties fair time and space during the election period,” Ressa said in her letter, according to the AKP media bureau.

AKP vice presidential bet Dominador Chipeco Jr. said he has accepted the apology of the television network, and stressed that “excellence and fairness are great virtues and forgiveness is no less.”