Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso. (Isko Moreno Domagoso Facebook photo)
MANILA, Philippines — The “considerable” drop of presidential candidate Manila City mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in the latest Pulse Asia voter preference survey is not surprising, especially when he called for the backing out of Vice President Leni Robredo from the presidential race.
This was the sentiment of presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao’s campaign manager Buddy Zamora on Wednesday when he was asked on his thoughts about the pre-election survey.
In the April Pulse Asia survey, Moreno dropped from third to the fourth spot as he lost 4 percentage points from the 8% rating in March.
He only garnered a 4% rating in the latest survey, which allowed Pacquiao to outrun him after gaining a 7% rating.
Asked if he was surprised by Moreno’s drop in the survey, Zamora said: “Not really.”
“Because of what transpired in the Easter Sunday press conference where fortunately or unfortunately we were not able to attend,” he explained in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.
He was referring to the press conference attended by Moreno last April 17 with other presidential candidates where he called for Vice President Leni Robredo to withdraw her presidential bid.
“I think that was a strategic mistake on his part and it tolled on the survey — he dropped considerably as expected,” Zamora said.
In the Pulse Asia survey, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remains the frontrunner with 56% of respondents saying they would vote for him.
He was followed by Robredo with a 23% rating and Pacquiao with a 7% rating.