THE camp of opposition presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo remains optimistic her survey ratings will improve in the next few months, noting the Latest Pulse Asia survey which showed her in second place behind former senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos was undertaken before the official start of the campaign period.
“While the Pulse Asia survey was only released today (Sunday), field work for it was done from January 19-24, too early to capture the impact of the game-changing interviews with GMA, DZRH, and other media outfits,” Robredo’s spokesman Ibarra Gutierrez said late Sunday.
“VP Leni’s stellar performance in those interviews, added to the massive rallies that have come out for her during this first week of the official campaign, give us confidence that she has the clear momentum. We have no doubt this will be reflected in the coming surveys, and of course, on election day,” he added.
The January 19-24 survey showed 60 percent would vote for Marcos if the May 9 elections were held that time, up from 53 percent in December 2021, while 50 percent would vote for Duterte-Carpio, up from 45 percent in December. Robredo was a far second, with 16 percent, down from 20 percent in December.
Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso followed both with 8 percent (unchanged) and Sen. Panfilo Lacson with 4 percent (down from 6 percent). Other presidential aspirants received less than 1 percent.
Lacson asked supporters not to lose hope if survey results show he is behind his rivals while Moreno said the people will be the final judge.
Lacson, on Twitter, said, “To our BRAVE supporters: if you don’t see in the surveys the support that you feel on the ground, don’t get disheartened. Our fight to enlighten a benighted land shall continue in ways that are determined, decent, serious and honest,” he said.
BRAVE stands for Budget Reform for Village Empowerment, which is Lacson’s advocacy to empower local governments by bringing budget resources to them in a bid to implement their own respective development programs.
THIEVES
Lacson, in a campaign rally in Davao de Oro over the weekend, said if pre-election surveys are to be believed, it would appear voters do not care about corruption and its effects on the next generation.
“Are you ready to be led by another thief again?… Ang pinagtataka namin… tayong lahat takot manakawan, di ba? … Pero tuwing eleksiyon tayo pa ang bumoboto ng mga magnanakaw (We have been wondering. We are all afraid of being robbed but we keep on electing thieves),” he said.
He asked voters to think hard and assess candidates before electing them so they will not have to spend the rest of their lives feeling sorry for themselves and their children.
Lacson’s running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, was second in the the vice presidential race in latest the Pulse survey which was topped by Marcos’ running mate, Davao City Sara Duterte-Carpio (50 percent, up from 45 percent in December). Sotto got 29 percent (down from 31 percent); Robredo’s running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan, 11 percent (statistically unchanged from 12 percent); Wilie Ong with 5 percent (statistically unchanged from 6 percent, Moreno team; and Rep. Lito Atienza with 1 percent (unchanged, Pacquiao’s running mate). Other vice presidential aspirants received less than 1 percent.
MORENO UNFAZED
Moreno said he remains undeterred by endorsements given to other presidential aspirants by various groups, saying the most important endorsement will come from ordinary Filipinos.
Moreno made the statement when asked to comment on the move of Mike Velarde, leader of the Catholic group El Shaddai, to endorse Marcos and Duterte-Carpio.
Moreno said he, Ong and their senatorial candidates could feel genuine support from the ordinary people from Day 1 of the campaign.
He reiterated he is open to all kinds of support, including endorsement from any group, including the religious sector.
Moreno, in Cavite on Sunday, vowed to provide P10,000 cash to each of the 790 families displaced by a massive fire that broke out in four barangays in the province.
Moreno made the pledge during a visit to the fire victims who are staying at the Ladislao Diwa Elementary School. He said the money will come from his personal fund and donations from friends and supporters.
Moreno was accompanied by Ong and Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial bets Carl Balita, Samira Gutoc, and Jopet Sison. They were joined at the site by Cavite Rep. Francis Blue Abaya and other local officials.
LAIKO GOES FOR LENI
The Catholic group Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (LAIKO) endorsed Robredo for president.
“With our current political-economic turmoil and the pandemic situation in the Philippines, we firmly believe that Vice President Leni Robredo, a God-fearing person, is the most capable candidate for the presidency, and we urge our constituents, if possible, to consider the same,” said LAIKO president Raymond Cruz Jr.
Cruz also said Robredo, “based on her track record of service, dedication to good governance, ability to implement partnerships and programs for the advancement of the people, especially the marginalized and her unassailable integrity, bested the others.”
LAIKO said it came out with an endorsement of a presidential bet as Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has strongly urged the laity to “help form the civic conscience of the voting population and work to explicitly promote the election of leaders of true integrity to public office.”
El Shaddai spiritual adviser Bishop Teodoro Bacani said Velarde’s endorsement of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio is “a personal endorsement.”
“He is the founder and leader of El Shaddai but he is not El Shaddai,” he said in a recorded video message posted on social media.
CAMPAIGN PROTOCOLS
The largest organization of physicians in the country expressed alarm over reported violations of COVID-19 health protocols during campaign activities.
The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said they join the Department of Health and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in airing their concerns over the possible transmission of the virus during campaign activities, which officially kicked off last week.
“As we can see, the rallies were really flocked by supporters. The protocols, however, weren’t being observed. The government cannot control it. We saw how physical distancing, wearing of face masks, and other protocols aren’t being observed,” said PMA president Dr. Benito Atienza.
“They have no alcohol provided to the crowd. Do they monitor the temperature of the attendees? Even if there is just one attendee, who has fever or cough, it can become a super spreader (event),” he added.
The situation, he said, may even worsen in the event that the restrictions are further loosened.
Atienza appealed to candidates to reduce their in-person campaign activities and instead opt for online activities.
The DOH and the Comelec last week said there was weak adherence to health and safety protocols during campaign activities, particularly proclamation rallies which saw thousands in attendance.
The PNP said it has observed violations of health and safety protocols during the campaign period for national candidates which started Tuesday last week.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo, at the “Laging Handa” briefing, did not give the specific violations.
A number of videos and pictures have spread on social media, showing people violating physical distancing during the campaign sorties and not wearing masks. There were also reports of handshaking and hugging among the candidates and the supporters, in violation of a Comelec resolution that prohibits physical contact during such political activities.
Fajardo said information about the violation of the health and safety protocols were brought to the attention of the Comelec.
“If we have to file cases, this should be coordinated with the Department of Health and of course with the Comelec which has the jurisdiction over these cases,” said Fajardo. — With Raymond Africa, Ashzel Hachero, Gerard Naval and Victor Reyes
