Supporters mob Vice President Leni Robredo as she arrives at the Tandag Sports Complex in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, . Photo by Erwin M. Macariñas
KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato — Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said they are taking the presidential survey results seriously although they are not troubled about it.
The presidential candidate in the May 9 elections made this remark even as many among her supporters have questioned the result of the latest Pulse Asia survey which placed Robredo at far second to rival Ferdinand Marcos Jr. despite throngs of people showing up in her campaign rallies in various parts of the country.
“Kami sineseryoso namin ‘yung surveys. Sineseryoso namin pero kung ang tanong nababahala ba kami, hindi,” Robredo told reporters Tuesday in an ambush interview on the sidelines of her event at the Kidapawan City Hall.
She then recalled that her ranking in surveys today is reminiscent of her position in vice presidential surveys in 2016.
“Coming from 2016, halos ganito ‘yung trajectory na coming from 1-2%, pero pumalo talaga numbers ko late March and April already,” she said.
“Kung babalikan natin ‘yung surveys nung 2016, at this time of the campaign, iba pa yung ranking ng mga kandidato,” she added.
She likewise pointed out that even the winner of the 2016 presidential race, President Rodrigo Duterte, was not yet the odds-on-favorite in presidential surveys at that time.
“In fact kahit si President Duterte, this time 6 years ago, hindi pa siya frontrunner. So ‘yung experience talaga namin from 2016, ‘yung pag-surge sa numbers nangyayari during the official campaign period,” Robredo said.
On Monday, several opposition supporters have raised concerns about the Vice President’s ranking in the Pulse Asia poll conducted February 18-23 in which only 15 percent of the 2,400 adult respondents preferred Robredo for president while 60 percent picked Marcos Jr.
Other supporters of Robredo expressed disbelief over the Pulse Asia survey result, opining that there might be manipulation of numbers.
Her spokesperson, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, said in a statement Monday that they remain optimistic about the Vice President’s winning chances in the May presidential race, noting that the latest Pulse Asia survey has not captured yet the “snowballing” of support for Robredo.
Robredo is thinking the same.
“‘Yong numbers na lumabas ay ‘yung na-capture niya lang ay ‘yung first week going into the 2nd week of the campaign. So, too early ito para sabihin na ‘di na tayo makakahabol or talong-talo tayo,” she explained.
“If at all, ang use sa amin ng surveys kung saan pa kailangan namin mag-exert pa ng effort. Pero hindi natin ito isinasantabi. Tinitignan natin siya seriously kasi ito naman, ‘yung surveys naman are really meant to guide us kung saan ‘yung mahihina tayo at medyo okay na tayo,” she added.
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She then admitted that there is a need for her team and supporters to exert more effort in wooing voters, especially those from Mindanao – where, according to the Pulse Asia survey, only 5 percent chose her for president,
But as to whether her campaign is working, Robredo pointed to their internal surveys which revealed that many voters were being ‘converted’ after she visited the area and talked to the people.
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“‘Yong experience ko kasi, kailangan kong sipagan na mabisita as many places as possible dahil ‘yung conversion sa aking pagbisita ay malaki. Meaning to say kahit ‘yung internal surveys namin, na nagpapakita na ‘yung mga lugar na napuntahan ko na, ‘yung surge sa numbers, significant. Ang kalaban lang talaga namin dito oras,” Robredo said.
“Kung napapansin ninyo, talagang ‘yung schedules namin, talagang as many places as possible during the day. I wish we would have more time kasi mas gusto ko din mas babad sana para mas quality ‘yung engagement. But we make do. Wala kaming pinipili,” she added.
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