IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines – Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso on Thursday welcomed the result of the Pulse Asia survey showing that his voter share in Mindanao grew from 8 percent in February to 9 percent this March.
The latest Pulse Asia survey also showed Moreno the top pick for the second-choice presidential candidate at 23 percent, followed by Senator Panfilo Lacson at 13 percent, Vice President Leni Robredo at 10 percent, and former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at 8 percent.
“Eh di tuloy-tuloy pa rin. Tao pa rin. Basta tayo same goal and focus. Deretso sa tao, more kilometers, more areas, more people, more eyeball. So, ganon lang tayo deretso kami nila Doc Willie, at sampu ng aming mga kasama,” Moreno told reporters in an interview here.
Asked if his latest survey rating for Mindanao truly reflects the kind of support he will getting from Mindanaoans once they cast their vote next month, Moreno said he will let the media and the public be the judge.
“Ayoko ng pangunahan ang tao, kayo na lang ang humusga. But I’m very happy whenever I’m in Mindanao, grabe, kahit saan ako magpunta sa Mindanao very warm ang reception. Sa airport pa lang nagugulat na ako e. But the thing is at least there is always time to reach more areas kasi malaki ang Pilipinas. Hindi pa naman natin naiikot lahat so, what matters most is that tuloy-tuloy lang ang pag-iikot,” explained Moreno.
Moreno’s running mate Dr. Willie Ong said he cannot understand how pre-election surveys are done knowing fully well that he has many supporters, particularly in Mindanao.
“Ayoko namang sabihing may edge (on other candidates) pero kahit dito sa Mindanao pag tatanungin namin ilan ang nanonood sa akin 90 percent. Ilan natutulungan 80 to 90 percent tapos sasabihin 1 percent lang ang boboto sa akin. Hindi na natin alam paano nangyayari yun, diba? So, meron nangyayari dun somewhere in between. Okay lang naman e ganyan ang pulitika natuto na ako. Alam ko na yung kalakaran ngayon at wala naman ako magagawa basta laban lang tayo. Laban lang tayo,” Ong told reporters.
After barnstorming Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte on Wednesday, Moreno and the rest of Team “Isko” are in Zamboanga Sibugay for a series of motorcades and town hall meetings as part of Team Isko’s strategy to win voters.
Joining Moreno and Ong in touring this province known for natural attractions such as white sand beaches, caves, and waterfalls are Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial candidates Samira Gutoc, Carl Balita, and Jopet Sison, and guest candidate John Castriciones of PDP-Laban.
Moreno said barnstorming the province is one way for him to determine straight to the people the problems they are facing and what he can do for them if ever he is given the chance to become president of the country.
“We will go around and talk to people. But in the past, still yung security threat, yung peace and order but so far payapa naman itong lugar na ito but again I’ll go around, talk to people, learn from them. Matuto tayo sa kanila, ano yung kailangan nila o ano yung mga kakailanganin dito,” Moreno pointed out.
Moreno on Thursday morning had a breakfast meeting with Ipil Mayor Anamel Olegario who is a close friend ever since they were still vice mayors of their respective local government units.
Moreno also paid a courtesy call to Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Wilter Palma and attended a town hall meeting at Kabasalan Gymnasium. Later in the day he will also attend a meet and greet with supporters in Zamboanga City, and a campaign rally at Southern City Colleges.
The 47-year-old presidential candidate stressed that he and the rest of Team Isko would focus on visiting different places, including far-flung areas, to reach as many people as possible.
Moreno is also looking forward to visiting more provinces and cities in the coming days and weeks as they continue to go around Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon.
“Tuloy-tuloy lang. Katulad ng dati laging deretso sa tao. Tao naman ang gumawa sa akin so, panatag naman ako na kapag umiikot kami nakikita nyo naman very warm ang tao so, tuloy-tuloy lang. Straight eye on the ball,” Moreno said.
Moreno maintained there will be no changes in his campaign strategy despite placing third in the Pulse Asia survey with 8 percent of the votes – down by two percentage points compared to February’s survey.
“Wala pa rin, ganun pa rin. Deretso sa tao. Kami ang pupunta sa tao. It’s always like that. I’ve been doing that since 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, ganun din ang gagawin ko ngayon. Basic campaign, straightforward, hindi magarbo, hindi magastos na kampanya, hindi kailangan gumastos ng milyon-milyon sa isang rally. Basta tayo deretso lang sa tao,” Moreno stressed.
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