People behind Pulse, SWS are relative and allies of Noynoy Aquino

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People behind the surveys of the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia, according to politician Francisco Tatad, are relatives and close associates of former President Benigno Aquino III.

This is according to an article by the Philippine Star published in 2010.



Tatad cited a research paper from the Securities and Exchange Commission saying that members of the Aquino clan and former associates of the late President Corazon Aquino are direct stockholders of SWS and Pulse Asia.

Rafael Cojuangco Lopa and Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco were included in the list.

Lopa was the director and president of Pulse Asia until he resigned to camouflage the firm’s support for Aquino’s bid for the presidency, while Cojuangco bankrolled the setting up of Pulse Asia in 1990.

According to Jose de Jesus, who was the Public Works Secretary during the Aquino administration is an incorporator and director in both Pulse Asia and the SWS.



He said that this suggests that there was a plan from the beginning by the Aquinos to control public opinion polling in the country.

He also noticed that there was an overlapping of names in the ownership of SWS and Pulse Asia with Felipe Miranda, Rosalinda Miranda, Gemino Abad and Mercedes Abad appear in the SEC records as founders and/or stockholders of both firms.

Mercedes R. Abad is the president of TRENDS-MBL, which has been conducting the field research for both agencies, according to Tatad.

Tatad said that the first to reveal the information was a Prof Alfredo Sureta who also called for the establishment of polling firms not owned by an avid Aquino supporter or relative to “enhance not only the credibility of the science of polling in the country, but also to allow a better flow of information to the voting public on the agenda and platforms of the candidates.”


source: philstar.com