The Tapatt survey on the Estrada scandal<\/p>\n
MANILA: Tapatt Foundation is an organization of civic-minded
\ncitizens \"saddened to see our country being ravaged by the greed
\nof many of those who are supposed to lead it.\" It is a non-stock,
\nnon-profit and non-partisan corporation registered with the
\nSecurities and Exchange Commission. It is not subsidized by the
\ngovernment or any politician or political party.<\/p>\n
Chaired by Antonio C. Abaya, noted journalist and radio
\ncommentator, it includes among its prominent charter members
\nGuillermo N. Carague, Baltazar N. Endriga, Josefina T. Lichauco,
\nand Reynaldo D. Pacheco. Tapatt welcomes all Filipinos who are
\nalso \"infuriated\" to see our people \"being wasted and demoralized
\nby the insatiable cupidity of many of their leaders and their
\nleaders' families and friends.\"<\/p>\n
Tapatt is the acronym for Transparency and Public
\nAccountability Today and Tomorrow. Unlike other civic societies
\nfocusing on particular issues like human rights, gun control and
\nclean elections, Tapatt addresses itself only to the
\nconstitutional requirement of government transparency and
\naccountability. This is a goal often defeated by cabals among
\npublic officials and their accomplices to suppress the truth and
\nconceal their misdeeds.<\/p>\n
Last month, Tapatt conducted its first public opinion poll to
\ngauge the reaction to certain current questions involving
\nPresident Joseph Estrada. It did not cover the current jueteng
\nscandal that exploded only three weeks ago. The poll was taken on
\na database of 550 e-mail addresses, with 148 responding to the
\nquestions. The respondents may be described as citizens with a
\ncivic conscience who believe that their voices can be heard and
\nmake a difference in the true democracy.<\/p>\n
According to the Tapatt official results, 94 percent of the
\ncomputer-literate respondents believed that the recent report of
\nthe Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism on the alleged
\nwealth of President Estrada and his extended families was
\n\"probably close to the truth but did not cover everything he and
\nhis families own.\" Only 4 percent thought that the report was
\nexaggerated.<\/p>\n
On whether or not President Estrada was legally liable for
\nanything, and given multiple answers to choose from, 82 percent
\nof the respondents said he was liable for unexplained wealth, 67
\npercent for concubinage, 61 percent for tax evasion, and 55
\npercent for perjury. But 4 percent believed he was not liable for
\nanything.<\/p>\n
The respondents were first reminded of Art. XI, Sec. 2, of the
\nConstitution providing that the President of the Philippines may
\nbe removed \"on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable
\nviolation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and
\ncorruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.\" This
\nwas the basis of the next question, which was whether President
\nEstrada should be impeached.<\/p>\n
Eighty-five percent of the respondents said Erap should be
\nimpeached under the specified grounds. Three percent believed he
\nshould not be impeached although the grounds were applicable to
\nhim. Nine percent felt he had not committed any of the prescribed
\noffenses and should not be impeached.<\/p>\n
Owing to the improbability of impeachment because of President
\nEstrada's control of the House of Representatives, where at least
\none-third of its members must agree to commence such action, the
\nrespondents were asked to choose from several proposed
\nalternatives.<\/p>\n
Twenty-eight percent said he should be impeached if his party
\nloses in the 2001 elections. Twenty-four percent said he should
\nbe deposed by a middle-class uprising like the Edsa revolution.
\nTwenty-one percent said he should call a snap election next year
\nto get a fresh mandate from the people. Sixteen percent said he
\nshould be allowed to finish his term but his party should be
\ndecisively defeated in the 2001 election. Only 6 percent were for
\na military coup and no one voted for a communist takeover.<\/p>\n
On the hypothetical situation of Estrada not finishing his
\nterm and the constitutional rules on presidential succession
\nbeing inapplicable, the respondents chose the successor as
\nfollows: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (32 percent), Fidel V. Ramos (20
\npercent), Raul Roco (19 percent), Hilario G. Davide Jr. (7
\npercent), Panfilo Lacson (4 percent), Franklin Drilon (2
\npercent), Rodolfo Biazon (2 percent), Manuel Villar (1 percent),
\nand Gregorio Honasan (1 percent).<\/p>\n
The report does not explain how the survey was conducted or
\nwhat scientific methods, if any, were employed. Even so, it may
\nbe assumed that the respondents were chosen at random from an
\nintelligent and politically aware group and, in view of the
\nTapatt membership, that the results were not rigged.<\/p>\n
Ideally, a survey of this nature should cover a cross-section
\nof the electorate instead of only a select segment of the
\npopulation. Although this would entail more effort and funding, a
\nconsultation of the various sectors of society--including the
\nyouth, women, the poor, laborers and farmers, the professionals
\nand others--would be more reflective of the national mood.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the Tapatt survey is useful in gauging the
\nsentiments of those interrogated on the conduct and performance
\nof President Estrada. That first poll could be only a start.
\nOther voter groups may be asked to respond in other surveys that,
\nstudied together, could be a barometer of the political climate.<\/p>\n
It's not unlikely that some surveys will be subsidized and
\norchestrated by special-interest groups to condition the minds of
\nthe people on certain issues. Even Malacanang may secretly fund
\nsuch surveys. Their credibility will, of course, depend on their
\nresults and the character of the people manipulating the polls.<\/p>\n
The indispensable condition is that the survey should be non-
\npartisan and dictated only by the need to crystallize public
\nopinion on problems \"that touch the heart of the existing order.\"
\nAll citizens have a legitimate role and responsibility in
\nresolving such issues after a consultation among themselves
\nthrough such media as the impartial survey.<\/p>\n
It is significant that although the Tapatt survey was made
\nbefore the current groundswell for President Estrada's
\nresignation as a result of the jueteng exposi, as many as 85
\npercent of the respondents were already for his impeachment last
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
-- The Philippine Daily Inquirer\/Asia News Network<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-tapatt-survey-on-the-estrada-scandal-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }