Honasan says no to ‘expensive’ ads despite drop in SWS survey

Sen. Gregorio Honasan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Despite  his big drop in the   latest Social Weather Station survey, Senator  Gringo Honasan  remained confident  that he  would  return to the  Magic  12 without  spending  for “expensive”  political advertisements.

“I have to be confident not only for my sake but for the sake of the Filipino people,” said  Honasan, who slid  from  5th to 6th in January to 15th  place  in the  SWS survey conducted from February 15 to 17.

Instead of  “sourgraping,”  Honasan  said  he would use the latest  survey  as an inspiration for him to work harder.

Asked  what could be  the reason  why his ranking suddenly dropped in the latest survey,  the senator said in mix of Filipino and English, “That’s beyond my capacity to answer. I just look at it positively. I will work harder. I have been a senator for the last 15 years so there’s no problem.”

“Besides, it’s too early to make conclusions. I will just work very well. I know that I have a solid record to stand on… I will really work harder because I don’t think the surveys will determine who will compose the next Senate,” he added.

Honasan, who is running under the United Nationalist  Alliance (UNA), said  he  would stick to his old campaign by going  directly  to the  people.

Besides, unlike other candidates, he said, he has no resources to pay for expensive political  advertisements or  popular endorsers.

“I will work within the limitations of my resources. But basically I will go directly to the people,” he said.

Asked if the lack of support from UNA could have contributed to   the sudden drop of his ranking in the survey, Honasan refused to comment, saying he would not like to sound that he was sourgraping.

“I just work on my strengths and on my weaknesses for the campaign to be effective by going directly to the people. I don’t have the capacity to pay for expensive infomercials,” he said.