Vice presidential candidate and Pacquiao’s running mate Lito Atienza had this to say Thursday as he dismissed the latest presidential surveys showing their tandem trailing behind other candidates.
According to Atienza, surveys are “self-serving” and that what he only believes is what he has seen so far in the field where there has been support towards Pacquiao’s presidential bid.
“Don’t believe the surveys, don’t believe it. Believe me, today, people are spending big money on surveys, depending on who’s paying for the survey, ay siya ang lalabas na panalo dyan (whoever paid for it will win in that survey). The survey that I’m believing is what I am seeing in the field,” Atienza said in an interview with INQside Look.
“I believe people will realize on election day a big surprise—Manny Pacquiao by a landslide,” he added.
Atienza said they had seen tremendous support from the provinces they have visited so far, including Pangasinan, which was supposed to be a part of the “solid North” backing the presidential bid of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Lahat ng lugar na puntahan namin, lumalabas, tumatakbo ang mga tao, sinasalubong siya (Pacquiao) ng buong init ng pagmamahal. May halong pasasalamat, may halong pagmamahal, at mayroong sigaw ng damdamin, ‘Manny Pacquiao, ikaw ang aming Pangulo!’” Atienza said.
(All of the places we have visited, people are going out and welcoming Pacquiao with warm love. It comes with gratefulness and love screaming, ‘Manny Pacquiao, you are our President!’)
“Surveys are self-serving. I wouldn’t Gove it any relevance at this point in time. I am not going to be daunted by it nor even discouraged simply because I see what’s happening in the field and how people are opening their homes for Manny Pacquiao,” he added.
Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio topped the latest presidential survey released by Pulse Asia while Senate President Vicente Sotto III led the vice presidential race.
Duterte-Carpio did not file her certificate of candidacy (COC) for the presidency and instead sought re-election as Davao City mayor while Sotto is the running mate of presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson.
In that survey, Pacquiao placed fourth while Atienza did not make the cut.