Rep. Manny Pacquiao AP FILE PHOTO
Sarangani Representative and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao saw his survey ratings dip following the backlash on his statement comparing gays to animals.
According to the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted February 15 to 20, Pacquiao’s ratings dipped to 34.8 percent, landing him at 11th to 14th place, shredding 12.1 percentage points from his 46.9 percent ratings in the previous January survey, when he landed at 8th to 10th place.
Pacquiao also lost the most points in the latest survey.
Despite the drop, Pacquiao was still considered among the probable winners in the senatorial elections, thus putting him in the “Magic 12.”
But Pacquiao lost three places to land at precarious last Magic 12 slot.
The survey was conducted in the aftermath of Pacquiao’s highly criticized statement in a television interview with TV-5’s “Bilang Pilipino” election coverage, when Pacquiao was asked about his stance on same sex marriage.
Pacquiao said gays are worse than animals by pairing themselves with the same gender.
READ: Pacquiao compares gays to animals, draws flak on social media
Pacquiao later gained the ire of leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) personalities, and even the sports brand Nike, which dropped him as its endorser. Vice Ganda and Boy Abunda urged their fans not to vote for Pacquiao.
READ: Nike axes Pacquiao over gay slurs – official
Pacquiao later apologized for comparing gays to animals, but he maintained his staunch opposition to same-sex marriage and his stand against homosexual acts by citing Biblical passages.
READ: Pacquiao says gay acts ‘detestable,’ ‘insult’ to God
The senatorial candidates who were considered to have chances in the Magic 12, from highest to lowest, are: Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (63.6 percent), Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (60.2percent), former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (54.1percent), Senator Ralph Recto (53.4percent). Senate President Franklin Drilon (52.4percent), former Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri (48.5percent), former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (45.3percent), Senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III (43.7percent), former Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon (42.6percent), Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian (41.2percent), former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Emmanuel “Joel” Villanueva (39.1percent), Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III (36.7percent), former Akbayan Party List Representative Risa Hontiveros (36.2percent), and Pacquiao.
According to the survey, however, at least 2.3 percent of respondents said they are not supporting any senatorial candidate. IDL