Marcos Jr. widens lead in Pulse Asia elections survey, but other candidates unbothered: 'VP Leni has the clear momentum'
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has topped the latest Pulse Asia survey on the May elections anew, even widening his lead. But other candidates seem to be unbothered—with the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo, his nemesis, saying she has "the clear momentum," no doubt.
In the survey conducted Jan. 19 to 24 and released Feb. 13, Marcos Jr. got 60% of votes among 2,400 respondents, a 7% increase from the December 2021 survey where the late dictator's son and namesake led the results with 53%.
While Robredo was still second place, with 16%, it's a 4% decline from her results during the previous survey where she scored 20%.
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso and Sen. Manny Pacquiao were tied at third place with 8% each, maintaining their numbers from December.
Sen. Ping Lacson, meanwhile, was still at fourth place with 4%, a 2% drop from his 6% preference among respondents.
Other results were: Faisal Mangondato (0.3%), former palace spokesman Ernesto Abella (0.05%), and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino Chairman Leody de Guzman (0.02%).
Former Department of National Defense Sec. Norberto Gonzales and Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr. receive essentially no support from the country’s electorate.
Pulse Asia reported an error margin of ± 2% nationwide, with a confidence level of 95%.
'Numbers don't lie,' but 'too early to capture impact of game-changing interviews'
Vic Rodriguez, Marcos Jr.'s spokesman, said in a statement after the fact that the survey results "confirm what we already know this time."
"Numbers don’t lie," Rodriguez said, "and it is really humbling to know that our message for national unity is resonating among the overwhelming majority of the Filipino people."
Robredo's spokesman Barry Gutierrez, meanwhile, took note of the survey's fieldwork date, saying it was "too early to capture the impact of the game-changing interviews with GMA, DZRH, and other media outfits."
"VP Leni's stellar performance in those interviews, added to the massive rallies that have come out for her during this first week of the official campaign," Gutierrez said, "give us confidence that she has the clear momentum."
"We have no doubt this will be reflected in the coming surveys, and of course, on election day," he added.
GMA's The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews aired on Jan. 22. Marcos Jr. declined the interview, with his camp claiming Soho was "biased" against the Marcoses, and that her questions "will just focus on negativity about BBM."
GMA has issued a statement taking exception to the Marcos Jr. camp's accusations.
The DZRH Presidential Job Interview, meanwhile, was held on Feb. 2.
The January 2022 Pulse Asia survey also took place on the heels of the Commission on Elections Second Division unanimously junking the petition to cancel Marcos Jr.'s certificate of candidacy, on Jan. 17.
'Don't get disheartened'
In a tweet on Feb. 14, Lacson addressed his "brave" supporters, saying they shouldn't get disheartened if they don't see in the surveys the support they feel on the ground.
To our BRAVE supporters: if you don’t see in the surveys the support that you feel on the ground, don’t get disheartened. Our fight to enlighten a benighted land shall continue in ways that are determined, decent, serious and honest. We will never give up for our country’s sake.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) February 13, 2022
"Our fight to enlighten a benighted land shall continue," Lacson said, "in ways that are determined, decent, serious and honest."
"We will never give up for our country’s sake," he added.
'Why would I get affected?'
Domagoso, meanwhile, told reporters in a previous interview on the sidelines of his caravan in Pasay that he isn't bothered with Marcos Jr.'s lead, as well El Shaddai founder Bro. Mike Velarde endorsing Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
SILENT MAJORITY ANG MAGDIDIKTA
— News5 (@News5PH) February 12, 2022
Kumpiyansa si presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno na ang karamihan sa mga Pinoy na kabilang sa "silent majority" ang magiging game changer para maging siya ang suusnod na pangulo ng bansa. #BilangPilipino2022 pic.twitter.com/3d3ANF9JQz
"Bakit ako (maaapektuhan?) Ayan, iyong tao na nagsasalita. I think the thing speaks for itself," Domagoso said.
He said the "silent majority" would be the game changer of the May elections.
"Sa gitna ng araw, kahapon umulan pa and you know it, umambon pero ang tao hindi nagpatalo o hindi nagpapigil" he said, "na mabigyan man lamang tayo ng lakas ng loob."
De Guzman also brushed off the results of the recent surveys.
"Sa usapin naman ng survey results, iyan ay estimate lang ng magiging resulta ng halalan. Magbabago pa iyan dahil nagsimula na ang mga forum at debate," De Guzman said in a statement.
