Students to Santiago: Surveys are constitutionally protected

MANILA — Students of various colleges said Monday that there is nothing wrong with publication of surveys, as Supreme Court classified polls as part of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.
The Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (Scap) took exception the comments made by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago on the reliability and propriety of the release of survey results in the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“The Supreme Court has ruled several times that surveys are covered by freedom of expression,” Scap national secretary-general Gibby Gorres told Sun.Star.
Santiago earlier said the Pulse Asia survey indicating that Corona is guilty before nearly half of Filipinos can be used to influence the decision-making of her fellow senator-judges.
The senator likewise questioned the reliability of the independent pollster for getting public opinion at the time Corona’s accusers had just finished the presentation of evidence.
“They (Pulse Asia) were not affected at all by the negative response of the public, that was a clear effort to manipulate the result of the impeachment trial,” Santiago said over radio station dzBB.
She also said the survey was contemptuous and an affront to fair justice.
But Scap said: “With all due respect to Senator Santiago, surveys will not fall under sub judice rule on discussing merits of the case since we are not party to the impeachment.”
It cited a decision dated January 28, 2000, when the High Court declared as constitutional the conduct of exit polling, where voters were asked whom they had chosen on Election Day.
This right was challenged in February 2001 with the passage of the Fair Election Act, which contained a provision banning publication of surveys 15 days before national elections and seven days before local elections.
However, the Manila Standard, together with the Social Weather Stations (SWS), asked the SC to declare Section 5.4 of the law as unconstitutional, which eventually ruled to their favor on May 5, 2001.
Scap had conducted a survey to 2,010 students in five universities — Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Davao University, University of the East, and Tarlac State University.
The survey started when it was Corona’s turn to refute allegations of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of Constitution.
Of the five schools, four demonstrated high level distrust of Corona with Ateneo de Davao topping the list with 78.3 percent.
Corona’s alma mater Ateneo de Manila, meanwhile, showed only 41 percent expressing lack of trust in the Chief Justice. Thirty-nine percent of the 410 randomly polled students in the Quezon City-based campus were still undecided, while only 21 percent expressed trust in him.
Students, who reportedly follow the developments of the case occasionally, were asked to fill out a written questionnaire from March 11 to 25.
This coincided with defense panel’s presentation of witnesses and evidence pointing that the magistrate correctly declared all his properties in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).
“This should serve as a challenge to Corona to come clean. We reiterate our call to the Chief Justice to open his dollar accounts, take a leave of absence and testify before the impeachment court. We believe if he will continue to hide behind legal technicalities, those who are undecided will eventually shift to the anti-Corona camp,” Gorres said.
The survey, which will be repeated once the Corona camp concludes its rebuttal, has a margin of error of plus/minus five percent at the 95-percent confidence level. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/03/26/students-santiago-surveys-are-constitutionally-protected-213276

As Manila becomes more congested and pollution becomes frustratingly intolerable, many families opt to spend a few quality nights and relax in this hotel in Angeles City Clark Pampanga. It is fair to say that YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is known for its faithful rendition of the American suburban lifestyle, all there for the enjoyment of all ages and all members of the family.

Trying to find a place of leisure and a place to stay in Clark, Philippines?

This resort hotel is different from other hotels in Clark Philippines or hotel in Angeles City. This Clark Freeport Hotel has large space for children to play and adults to enjoy some peace and quiet in the picnic grounds near the lake. Clark Philippines is lucky to have such a hotel. Travel agencies think it is also a nice event venue for company outings, wedding, team building and planning session in the Philippines. They don’t think Angeles City, Manila or Subic has event venues like those in this beach resort in Pampanga.

New camping sites and picnic grounds in Philippines are now available for family outings in Philippines at Yats Clearwater Resort & Country Club in Pampanga Angeles City near Manila Philippines. Just bring camping equipment and enjoy the fun and ambience of outdoor living camping in Angeles City Philippines under safe, secured and clean conditions.

Clearwater is a highly recommended and most frequently visited place of leisure that is a private resort in Pampanga. This Clark hotel is a famous leisure destination outside of Manila for corporate planning because of its exclusivity. Clark is home to some of the best golf courses in Pampanga. Although golf continues to be one of the reasons why visitors from Manila travel to Pampanga, residents of Angeles City, Subic and Bulacan travel to Clark not just to play golf in one of the best golf courses in Pampanga but also to relax and unwind in the best resort in Philippines.

This breakfast garden café is absolutely the most idyllic restaurant in Angeles City Clark Philippines. You named it right – Clearwater Breakfast Garden and Café. This is exactly what Clark Freeport needs, a nice simple bistro café where one can get good quality breakfast and enjoy the food in peace at leisure pace. This is the best hotel restaurant in Angeles City Clark Philippines and the eggs Benedict as well as American Breakfast and the pancakes are really world-class.

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, click here to contact Clearwater Resort now

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

For jobs and business investment opportunities in the Philippines please visit http://www.yilp.com