Bam Aquino to ‘double efforts’ as he lags behind in Pulse Asia survey

Reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino shakes hands with a vendor at the Ilagan Public Market in Ilagan City during a campaign sortie on Tuesday.(PHOTO BY VILLAMOR VISAYA JR.)

CITY OF ILAGAN, ISABELA — Reelectionist Senator Bam Aquino has expressed confidence that he could still crack the top 12 in the senatorial race despite lurking right outside the winning circle in the latest Pulse Asia Survey.

Aquino ranked 13th to 17th in the survey, with 30.4 percent of the respondents saying they would vote for him.

The survey, topped by independent candidate and reelectionist Senator Grace Poe, was conducted from Feb. 24 to 28.

“It is too early. There are still 60 days before elections. It is very tight because it may mean that I can win or I can be outside the top 12, so we need to double our efforts and it would spur our campaigners and volunteers to work more,” Aquino told reporters during his campaign sortie at the Ilagan public market on Tuesday.

Reacting to the recent tirades of President Duterte against him and other Otso Diretso candidates, Aquino said the President should instead focus on addressing pressing issues and avoid hurling insults at the opposition candidates.

“It is true we are having less money for the campaign but the administration should address the issues against the government instead of doing mudslinging,” he added.

He encouraged villagers to watch the disposition of the P10-billion fund set aside to help farmers amid the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law.

On the government’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, Aquino said Mr. Duterte is still not yet off the hook on the allegations of human rights violations.

“The confirmation of the Senate should have been acquired before the withdrawal. There should have been a process. In fact, he should have allowed the investigation if he is not hiding something,” he added.