SWS disowns Makati mayoral survey spreading thru text

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) has denied conducting an alleged preferential survey that showed mayoral candidate Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado slightly leading over the son of incumbent Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. "Social Weather Stations hereby informs the public that it has not conducted any survey on voter preferences in Makati City," it said in a statement pposted on their website Monday. The polling firm added that "False reportage about SWS surveys is very common in the period leading up to an election." It reminded the public to check the official SWS website first before believing any survey that proliferates through text message, adding that its website is the only source of official survey report released to the public. The alleged survey was done from March 7 to 10, with the results circulating via text message as early as March 12. In the false survey that circulated through text last week, Mercado emerged on top of the five hopefuls vying for the mayoral seat in Makati City. His contenders include Binay's son Jejomar Erwin Jr, Bigkis Pinoy bet Erwin Genuino, and former senator Agapito "Butz" Aquino. "SWS survey as of March 7 to 10, 2010 with 2,520 Makati resident respondents. District 1 Mercado 41%, Binay 30%, Genuino 10%, Aquino 1%. District 2 37%, 33%, 12%, 2% respectively," the message read. Mercado been quoted in newspaper reports as denying that he commissioned the alleged SWS survey, but added the figures in the text messages "validated" his camp's own figures. Binay Jr. himself had likewise doubted through a statement the authenticity of the survey spreading through text, saying if it indeed came from the SWS, the survey should have been first reported by the media. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMANews.TV