Escudero unfazed by survey drop, says numbers always changing

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. ARNOLD ALMACEN/Poe-Escudero Media Bureau

Vice presidential candidate Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero remained unfazed by his drop in the latest surveys, saying the final survey would be the  national elections on May 9.

Escudero was  overtaken by his rivals, Camarines Sur Representative Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS).

READ: Leni jumps 7 points, now leads VP race

“Pati ako naguguluhan na sa mga survey na lumalabas, kaliwa’t kanan at iba iba. Bast para sa akin, lahat ng surveys pinag-aaralan namin, lahat ng survey tinitingnan namin kung ano ang pwedeng maging impact gayundin ano pa ang pwede naming baguhin sa aming kampanya. Ang kampanya naman ay work in progress, hindi po nakaukit sa bato ang ano mang estratihiya o taktika,” he said during a forum in Quezon City on Monday.

(I am confused over the published surveys because their results are different. We study the surveys and we look over them to see their impact and how we can improve our campaign. A campaign is a work in progress, any strategy or tactic is not engraved on stone.)

“Nagbabago-bago talaga yan at nakikita natin ang mga survey, mataas mababa, mataas mababa, nagbabaliktaran ang mga survey. So sa dulo, magsisikap at magsisipag lang naman ang lahat ng kandidato dahil sa dulo, ang pinakahuling survey ika nga ay ang botohan mismo, sa araw ng eleksyon sa May 9, yun ang mabibilang at bibilangin,” he said.

(Surveys are changing. Sometimes, the ratings are high, sometimes, low. These surveys are reversible. In the end, all the candidates will strive hard [in their campaign] because as they say, the last survey is the Election Day on May 9 where the actual votes would be counted.)

Asked if he was not surprised by Robredo’s surge in the surveys, Escudero reiterated that the numbers are always changing.

Robredo and Marcos tied for the top spot with 26 percent and 25 percent, respectively, based on the SWS presidential survey conducted from April 18 to 20, followed by Escudero with 18 percent, Senator Alan Cayetano with 16 percent, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV with five percent and Senator Greogorio “Gringo Honasan” II with two percent.

“Dalawang linggo na lang, kokonting panahon na lang yun. Gaya nga ng sinabi ko, ang survey pataas, bababa, tataas-bababa yan. Sino man ang pinakamataas, hindi dapat magyabang, sino man ang nasa pinakababa, hindi dapat mainis dahil giya at snapshot lamang yan ng pananaw ng ating kababayan sa partikular na panahon at sa partikular na lugar kung saan kinuha yun.”

(There are two weeks left before  Election Day. Only a short time is left. As I said, the ratings in the survey are sometimes high, sometimes, low. Whoever is in the lead should not boast and whoever is in the lowest place should not be annoyed because it is just a snapshot of our countrymen’s view at a particular time and place where the survey was taken.)

“Lahat pinapaniwalaan namin at pinag-aaralan namin kaya lahat naman din mula’t mula, tinuring naming seryosong kalaban, wala kaming manaliit sa mga tumatakbo, ano man ang numero na binigay sa kanila ng survey (We believed in all the surveys and we studied them. That’s why from the start we have treated our opponents as serious rivals, we did not underestimate those who are running, whatever ratings the surveys have given them),” he added.

Given their “limited” resources, Escudero said he and Poe, both independent candidates, had no regrets at how they were running their campaign.

“Ginawa namin ang kaya at magagawa namin sa limited na resources namin. Hindi tulad ng mga katunggali ko, wala naman po akong pera at partido katulad na lamang ni Senator Grace. Ginawa namin sa abot ng aming makakaya ang pwede naming gawin given our limited resources,” he said.

(We did everything we could given our limited resources. Unlike our rivals, Senator Grace and I lack the funds and the party. We did everything we could given our limited resources.)

“Walang pagsisi, walang pagkukulang sa parte namin. Kung ano lang ang kaloob ng Diyos ika nga na resources, tao at pagkakataon, yun lang din ang minaximized namin.”

(There are no regrets and shortcomings on our part. We maximized whatever God gave us, such as resources, manpower and opportunities.)

Escudero dismissed speculation that they are the “secret candidates” of President  Aquino, who is campaigning for Robredo and the administration’s presidential bet, former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

READ: Tatad bares Poe-Aquino meeting at Palace

He also denied reports that Poe had met privately with the President supposedly to explore how they could “help each other” in the  election.

“Yung napabalitang usapan di umano ni Senator Grace at Pangulong Aquino, wala pong ganoong nangyaring kaganapan (The reported meeting between Senator Grace and President Aquino is not true),” said Escudero.

READ: Poe remains independent; camp denies meeting with Aquino

“Tinitiyak ko sa inyo, hindi po ako o kami ang plan B dahil wala naman po yatang plan B si Pangulong Aquino (I assure you that Poe and I are not considered plan B because I don’t think the President Aquino has such plan),” he added. RAM