MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte remains to be the vice presidential candidate “to beat” in the upcoming 2022 elections, Malacañang insisted on Wednesday, even as he placed second in the preferred vice presidential bets in a recent Pulse Asia survey.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque pointed out that the surveys are only “snapshots of public opinion at a particular point in time,” and the Pulse Asia survey was done when aspirants, including President Duterte, have yet to file their certificates of candidacy.
He also noted that there are also uncertainties in Duterte’s electoral bid.
“Be that as it may, the President remains the candidate to beat in the 2022 elections,” he said in a statement.
In a Pulse Asia survey conducted from Sept. 6 to 11, Duterte placed second in the preferred vice presidential candidates, following Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Duterte secured 14 percent of Filipinos’ support, while Sotto received 25 percent.
However, the President was followed by Manila City mayor Isko Moreno and former Senator Bongbong Marcos with 12 percent each.
Duterte dropped to second place from the previous Pulse Asia survey results where he was the leading vice presidential candidate with 18 percent rating. Sotto was only third in the previous survey with a rating of 10 percent.
READ: Pulse Asia: Sara Duterte top pick for president, Sotto leads VP polls
For its part, a PDP-Laban faction pushing for Duterte to run for vice president said it will use the survey as “guideposts” for its strategy once the campaign period starts in 2022.
The faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the group will continue to highlight Duterte’s achievements in his stint as chief executive.
“We will harp on our achievements and our strengths because these are where our political opponents are lacking,” it said in a statement.
President Duterte had accepted the nomination of a faction of PDP-Laban to run for vice president. He has already signed the party’s certificate of nomination and acceptance.
The PDP-Laban, however, is still convincing Senator Bong Go to be Duterte’s running mate.
The filing of certificates of candidacy is set on Oct. 1 to 8.