PARTIDO Reporma president and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez yesterday said they will not allow Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the party’s standard bearer, to back out of the May 2022 presidential race even if he has been performing poorly in pre-election surveys.
“Sa akin naman, sabi ko, aba’y kahit anong mangyari, huwag tayong tumigil dahil pagka-tumigil, we are depriving voters of the opportunity to choose the right leader in the May 9 elections (For me, come what may, we will not quit because if we do, we are depriving voters of the opportunity to choose the right leader in the May 9 elections),” Alvarez told radio dzRH.
Recent pre-election surveys have shown Lacson consistently ranking fourth or fifth in voters’ preference for president if the national elections were held earlier than May 9.
A survey conducted by Pulse Asia from December 1 to 6 showed Lacson ranking fifth among the presidential aspirants, with only six percent voters’ preference.
Leading that survey was former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who was chosen by 53 percent of the respondents, followed by Vice President Leni Robredo with 20 percent preference, tied in third/fourth positions were Manila Mayor Franciso “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao who were both preferred by eight percent of the respondents.
The Pulse Asia survey had 2,400 respondents aged 18 years old above. It had a 2 percent error margin.
Alvarez said their party is working double time to improve Lacson’s pre-election ratings by organizing more dialogues with communities and stakeholders.
“Ang tao puwedeng magbago two months before, one month before, two weeks before, three weeks before, one week before or even a day before. Puwede pang magbago ng isip iyon (A person’s mind can change two months, one month, two week before, three weeks before, one week before or even a day before [election day]),” he said.
He added: “Dapat isipin nila na ‘yung eleksiyon ay sa May 9 pa, malayo pa iyon. ‘Yung surveys kasi ay hindi naman ‘yan eleksiyon (The people should realize that the elections is on May 9 which is still far, and surveys are not the actual elections).”
Alvarez said Lacson is the most qualified candidate in next year’s elections given the senator’s extensive experience in public service.
