VICE presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday said pre-election surveys and large campaign rallies do not guarantee a candidate’s victory.
Sotto issued the statement just as the Pulse Asia released its latest survey showing that the tandem of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio leading in a survey conducted from April 16 to 21.
Sotto said Filipino voters are discerning and remained confident he would be chosen over the leading vice presidential candidate due to his unblemished track record.
He said Filipinos still have time to thoroughly assess the platforms and programs of government he and his running mate Sen. Panfilo Lacson are offering.
Sotto was in second place in the Pulse survey while Lacson placed fifth among 10 presidential candidates,
“Because of technology, in a matter of two or three days, pwedeng mabaligtad pa ang isip ng mga kababayan natin. Merong ganun (voters can change their minds. That happens).
I’ve seen it in the past. Not only in the presidential or vice presidential candidates but also in senatorial candidates and even in the local candidates,” he said.
Sotto recalled there were instances when campaign or crowd favorites ended up losing to less popular candidates after voters weighed their selections and found better candidates than their “idols.”
He said a classic example was in the 2019 elections in Pasig City when the incumbent mayor was always leading in surveys but was defeated by his nephew, Vico Sotto, who showed poorly then in surveys.
“Alam ng taumbayan ang totoo. Kilala ng taumbayan kung sino ang tunay na magsisilbi sa kanila. Sa araw ng eleksyon, naniniwala ako na gagamitin ng ating mga kababayan ang kanilang isip at puso sa pagboto para sa mga susunod na lider na magtataguyod sa ating bansa (The people know the truth. The people know who will truly serve them. On election day, I believe that the voters will choose candidates using their hearts and minds),” he added.
