Surveys don't shake ground we walk on, says Lacson's Senate bets

The Partido Reporma senatorial candidates running under the Lacson and Sotto tandem said they were not bothered by the recent survey ratings.

In a statement, senatorial bet Monsour del Rosario said he was not concerned about his placing on the surveys as he gives more importance to introducing their platforms to the public.

“This is my personal stake as far as surveys are concerned. I’m probably also a – what? – number 20, 22. I don’t know. But like I said in several interviews, surveys don’t shake the ground we walk on because surveys are done as a way to kind of like see and give you guidance, and kind of mind-condition the people – the public,” Del Rosario said.

“And surveys are done with 1,200 people, 2,500 people (as respondents). (Are) you telling me these people are the ones [who] will decide who will be President and Vice President when there are, what, 62 million voters? It’s kinda far percentage to cap that kind of decision,” Del Rosario added.

Senatorial candidate and former Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol expressed the same opinion.

“My case, for example. I haven’t been figuring in the surveys. The last number I had was about 24. Am I worried? No. The mere fact that I was able to bring my advocacies to the national political stage is victory enough for me,” Piñol said.

“You know, elections are not just about winning it. Elections are about presenting your advocacies and leaving the judgement to the people to decide whether your advocacies are worth supporting, whether your advocacies will change their lives. So, ito lang naman po ‘yung aking punto [This is just my point],” he added.

For her part, Dra. Minguita Padilla urged the public to use their conscience in choosing their next set of leaders.

“Ano [ba] talaga ang gusto niyong makita sa hinaharap para sa mga kabataan, para sa anak niyo, sa mga apo? Then you choose your leaders based on that. Kilalanin niyo po ‘yung mga tumatakbo. Don’t listen first now to the surveys. That’s up to the candidates to use as guidance, but don’t let it shape your decision at the moment,” she said.

[What do you really want to see in the future for the youth, for your children, for your grandchildren? Get to know the candidates.]

Moreover, Del Rosario lamented the lack of government’s intervention to people with special needs.

“Kawawa ang mga bata because they were born like that, they live their life like that, and they grow old like and some of them don’t even grow,” Del Rosario said in a campaign rally in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

(We pity these children because  they were born like that, they live their life like that, and they grow old like and some of them don’t even grow.)

“Walang government intervention. So marami akong doktor na nakausap gagawa tayo ng mga institution na makakatulong sa kanila,” he added.

(There’s no government intervention. So we will establish an institution that will help them.)

The Lacson and Sotto tandem went to Panabo City and Tagum City in Davao del Norte to woo voters in Mindanao.

Their events were organized by the local government officials, namely Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.

Alvarez, who currently sits as Partido Reporma president, endorsed Senator Panfilo Lacson for president and Senate President Vicente Sotto III for vice president in his bailiwick. —NB, GMA News