VP BETS

Sotto humbled by latest Pulse Asia standing; Palace says Duterte is 'candidate to beat'

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday welcomed the results of the recent Pulse Asia survey showing him as a top vice presidential bet in the 2022 elections, even ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Malacañang, meanwhile, maintained that Duterte is "the candidate to beat" despite placing only second to Sotto.

"With utmost humility, I thank God and our 'kababayans' for the trust and confidence that many are placing on me and my dream of further serving the Filipino Family beyond the halls of the Senate," Sotto said in a statement.

"I will use this as confidence booster to work harder as the top official of the Senate, as I present myself to our people as a worthy and reliable candidate for Vice President," he added.

Both Sotto and Duterte have expressed their intention to run for vice president in 2022 -- Sotto as Senator Panfilo Lacson's running-mate and Duterte as the official vice presidential candidate of the PDP-Laban wing under Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

'Uncertainties'

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, for his part, said surveys should be taken with a grain of salt given that the filing of candidacy is scheduled from October 1 to 8.

"The latest Pulse Asia survey, conducted September 6 to 11, was done when aspirants, including President Duterte, have yet to file their Certificates of Candidacy, and there are uncertainties on the President’s electoral bid," Roque said in a separate statement.

"Surveys, we have to underscore, are snapshots of public opinion at a particular point in time. Be that as it may, the President remains the candidate to beat in the 2022 elections," he added.

The recent Pulse Asia survey showed Sotto with 25% rating and Duterte 14%.

A Pulse Asia survey in June showed Duterte on top with an 18% rating, followed by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno with 14% and Sotto with 10%.

The PDP-Laban party led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi conceded that surveys serve as guide but maintained that it does not stop there.

“We will continue on highlighting President Duterte’s success in the campaign against drugs, criminality, corruption and terrorism,” the party said in a statement.

“We will harp on our achievements and our strengths because these are where our political opponents are lacking,” the party added.

The Pulse Asia poll was conducted amid the ongoing Senate investigation on P8 billion worth of government medical supply purchases from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, a firm with a paid-up capital of only a little over P600,000.

Duterte has consistently defended the government's procurement from accusations of overpricing, saying the senators conducting the hearing are only politicking ahead of the 2022 elections. —KBK, GMA News