Lacson: Candidates’ track record more important than performance in surveys

Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

While he admits the role of surveys in shaping the views of voters, former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Saturday said that a candidate’s track record is more important than his ranking in polls measuring the people’s preference for the 2016 elections.

“Whether we like it or not, ‘eto (survey) ‘yung humuhubog sa persepyon at kaisipan ng mga tao eh. Eh kung sino ‘yung nangunguna sa survey, lalong nagkakaroon ng snowball effect, ‘di ba? At ‘yung mga laggard sa survey eh sila ‘yung mga medyo lumalabas na loser,” Lacson said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.

(Whether we like it or not surveys shape the perception and views of the people. Those who lead in surveys experience a snowball effect, while those who are lagging are perceived as the losers.)

“But then, hindi lang naman dapat mga survey ang batayan, ano? Mukhang nakakaligtaan ‘yung mga issues at track record ng mga taong tumatakbo. What are the issues against him or her? Naseset-aside lahat ng mga ‘to at nafofocus ‘yung isip ng mga tao sa survey,” Lacson said.

(But then, surveys shouldn’t be the sole basis, right? Some people might be forgetting to consider the issues and the track record of the candidates. What are the issues against him or her? These are being set aside because the people are more focused on the surveys.)

READ: Ping Lacson is ‘dark horse’ for 2016

Lacson, who has yet to decide on his plans for 2016, acknowledged that he lags behind the presidential preference surveys. He, however, takes comfort that he ranks high in polls on possible senatorial candidates.

READ: Ping on 2016: ‘Count me among the undecided’

“Eh alam niyo kapag lumalabas ‘yang mga surveys eh medyo number 2 ako sa mga senatorial candidates pero pagdating sa presidential andun ako sa 1 percent at minsan wala pa,” Lacson said.

(In the recent surveys, I would rank second among probable senatorial candidates, but would just rake in 1 percent and sometimes not even appear in the presidential preference ratings.)

In the March 2015 survey of the Social Weather Stations, Lacson only raked in 1 percent of voters’ preference on the best leaders to succeed President Benigno Aquino III. Vice Jejomar President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte paced the results of that survey. IDL with a report from John Lester Q. Alos, INQUIRER.net trainee