Robredo unfazed by low survey ratings

COTABATO CITY, Maguindanao, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo said she remained unfazed by her static ratings in the pre-election surveys for the presidential race, as she cited her camp’s own internal poll showing a “significant increase” in her numbers.

“The numbers that came out captured the first week going into the second week in the campaigns,” she said. “It’s too early to say that we won’t be able to catch up or we’ll lose by a lot,” she said on Tuesday during her campaign in Matalam, North Cotabato.

On Monday, Pulse Asia released its latest survey taken Feb. 18-23 showing former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the front-runner with 60 percent and Robredo a far second at 15 percent.

Based on regional results, Marcos was highest in Mindanao (68 percent), where Robredo had been barnstorming since last week.

But based on her camp’s internal surveys, it appeared that her recent efforts to woo voters across the country were working, Robredo said, adding that her team saw a significant surge in her ratings in the places she had visited.

“But our enemy here is time, that’s why as you can see in our schedules, we’re visiting as many places as possible during the day,” she said.

Robredo said she was following the same trajectory taken by her 2016 vice presidential run, where she started at 1 to 2 percent.

Duterte endorsement

“In fact, even President Duterte himself this time six years ago was not the front-runner,” she said. “So based on our experience, surges in ratings happen during the official campaign period.”

Also on Tuesday, an ally of the president urged him to endorse Robredo. This was after Duterte said he wanted his successor to be a lawyer who is compassionate, decisive, and a good judge of character.

“The president certainly wants his reform programs to be continued by his successor. It is VP Leni who could offer continuity because she has been there, as vice president of the land,” House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said.

The Cagayan de Oro representative said Robredo, apart from being involved in implementing reforms and policies pushed by administration, also enjoyed a distinct advantage: She doesn’t have to “go through a learning curve and would hit the ground running if.. elected President.”

“I have seen the massive crowds that VP Leni’s campaign sorties have attracted. These are ordinary Filipinos, workers, the middle class, those in the A-B economic groups, the laity of the Church, and the youth,” he added.

Taking a cue

Meanwhile, another provincial governor has endorsed Robredo, also taking a cue from the president’s stated criteria.

Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan said he and the local government officials of his province were supporting the Vice President, citing her character and track record.

“We in the province of Northern Samar agree with [Duterte] that the next president of the republic should be compassionate, decisive and a good judge of character,” he said.

Ongchuan, a member of the National Unity Party, was the fourth governor in the Visayas to endorse Robredo. The others were Bong Lacson of Negros Occidental, Arthur Defensor of Iloilo, and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, the last a key Duterte ally and vice president of the ruling PDP-Laban in the Visayas.

Evardone on Tuesday said Duterte had given his “blessing” to his decision to back Robredo.

The governor said he met with the president in Malacañang on Feb. 14 to “inform” him about this decision.

—WITH A REPORT FROM NESTOR CORRALES

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