FILE PHOTO: Vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Vice presidential candidate Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday asserted that surveys and big campaign rally crowds do not guarantee a win in the elections.
For Sotto, voters can still change their minds up until they cast their choices on the ballot.
“Because of technology, in a matter of two or three days pwedeng mabaligtad pa ang isip ng mga kababayan natin. Merong ganun [Filipinos can still change their mind in a matter of two or three days]. I’ve seen it in the past. Not only in the presidential or vice presidential candidates but also in senatorial candidates and even in the local candidates,” Sotto said.
The veteran senator’s statement came as the latest Pulse Asia survey showed that Sotto’s voter preference dropped to 18 percent from 20 percent in the previous pre-election poll. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has continued to be the survey frontrunner for the post.
“Malakas po ang kumpiyansa ko sa aking mga kaalyado at supporters. Naniniwala ako na kaya naming ipanalo ang laban na ito. Tiwala ako sa talino at kakayahan ng mga botanteng Pilipino na pumili ng tama at karapat-dapat na mga lider ng ating bansa,” Sotto said.
(I am confident with my allies and supporters. I believe that we can win this fight. I trust the intelligence and the capability of Filipino voters to pick the right and worthy leader for our country.)
With the campaign period at the homestretch, Sotto believed there is still time for voters to finalize their pick.
He pointed to instances when less popular aspirants win over “crowd favorites” after voters weigh in on who to select and find better candidates than their “idols.”
“I’ve seen surveys na bumaligtad (that overturned),” noted Sotto, citing as an example the victory of his nephew, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
“The classic example is the elections in Pasig City where Mayor Vico Sotto beat his very popular rival for the mayoralty post. In 2019, malayong malayo ang leading na kandidato kay Vico pero pagdating na ng eleksyon, nag-isip ang mga botante. Inilaban nila ang tama at nararapat,” he said.
(The classic example is the elections in Pasig City where Mayor Vico Sotto beat his very popular rival for the mayoralty post. In 2019, the leading candidate had a wide lead against Vico but once the election came, the voters thought things through. They fought for what is right.)
“Look at Pasig City now – it’s booming and has a bright future ahead. Pasigueños took a chance and they are now reaping the rewards. This is what intelligent voters bring to the table,” he added.
“Alam ng taumbayan ang totoo. Kilala ng taumbayan kung sino ang tunay na magsisilbi sa kanila. Sa araw ng eleksyon, naniniwala ako na gagamitin ng ating mga kababayan ang kanilang isip at puso sa pagboto para sa mga susunod na lider na magtataguyod sa ating bansa,” he further said.
(The public knows the truth. The public knows who is truly serving them. On the day of the election, I believe that Filipinos will use their brain and heart in voting for the next leader who will uplift the country.)