Only Pulse and SWS are considered to have a track record of dependability and consistency. What this is is push polling. Push polling is an old technique used to pull a frontrunners’ numbers down.

The one to watch is what follows from this:

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/233934/villar-inches-closer-latest-sws-poll

With Chiz dropping out and Noli, too. Where will their supporters go? And with the addition of Gordon, where will his support come from? If we assume Gibo’s strategy is to find a way to start with the President’s core constituency of 20% and hopefully add to it, and that a crowded field might flatten numbers enough, it gives him a fighting chance -what remains to be seen, though, is if the President’s 20% constituency is transferable.

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Gibo, rising from 2% to 10%? That’s a five-fold increase. Not too shabby! Gordon, from almost nowhere to 8% is indeed impressive! Did the debates help to form these opinions? Gibo and Gordon have consistently performed well. Noynoy, has been his usual drab self. It seems to show in his dropping numbers.

However limited as told by Bernas, SC will continue to act on the 7 petitions against Martial Law which will be discussed on Tuesday when the justices sit in an en banc session.

Let us see by Tuesday or later what SC will say to confirm if Bernas is indeed right.

1. Admissability of evidences acquired through Martial Law.

2. Deciding or not on the legality of Martial Law in Maguindanao.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20091213-241862/After-martial-law-what

With martial law lifted, however, there will be no occasion to discuss this academic issue.

Incidentally, and this is now probably also an academic matter, I have also maintained that the power of the Supreme Court over a declaration of martial law is more limited than that of Congress. Aside from being able to interpret the meaning of rebellion, the Court can only review “the sufficiency of the factual basis of the proclamation.” The Court cannot determine whether the choice of martial law is the correct solution to a factual situation.

Congress has a broader power. Even if the factual basis for the proclamation is sufficient, Congress may still revoke the president’s decision. The Constitution does not limit the grounds upon which Congress may base revocation. However, the vote needed is a majority of all the members of Congress voting jointly. This does not seem to be easy of achievement in the present Congress.

This can be appreciated if all or most of those appointed justices by President Arroyo will chose not to decide on legality to avoid clipping Executive powers. Let us see if Puno has the leadership of his own chamber.

True for Congress but false for Supreme Court. Justice Secretary is still bound to answer SC despite the martial law lifting and SC can still decide on the legality.

When money and brute force are supreme, impunity is the law! Government in this case is useless.

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agree.