Marcos Jr., Duterte lead pre-campaign SWS commissioned survey

Presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte emerged the top choices in the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the Stratbase ADR Institute for Strategic and International Studies, according to a "24 Oras" report by Mark Salazar.

The survey was conducted from January 28 to 31, more than a week before the start of the official campaign period for national candidates. 

Marcos ranked first with 50 percent, followed by Vice President Leni Robredo with 19 percent, while both Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao grabbed the third spot with 11 percent. 

Senator Panfilo Lacson got 6 percent while labor leader Leody De Guzman garnered 0.3 percent, and the rest of the aspirants had less than 1 percent.

For the vice president, Duterte topped the survey with 44 percent, followed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III with 33 percent and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan with 10 percent.

Dr. Willie Ong ranked fourth with 7 percent, while Representative Lito Atienza got 2 percent. The rest of vice presidential aspirants had less than 1 percent.

The research institute Stratbase ADR has commissioned the latest SWS survey for May 2022 polls.

Not yet late

Stratbase, an international research organization, observed that it was not unlikely for the ranking to change as the election nears.

The group said that there are still 20 percent of the 65.7 million voters who have no decision yet.

“The surveys are telling us what are the preferences at that moment, so it can change,” professor Dindo Manhit, Stratbase president, said.

“But more than politicians, what I would like to watch more is for the first time societal institutions or other institutions like schools fighting historical revisionism or media. These are the things more than endorsement of local candidates,” he added.

Manhit expressed concern on the emergence of social media that could affect the elections.

"I fear, imagine our elections will be shaped by social media which is one-way communication. Then by June 30, 2022, governance will be one-way also, there's no need for mainstream media. That's what I fear most because of the rise of social media," he said.

Bandwagon

Manhit also observed that Marcos would not be as strong as a presidential contender if he is not Duterte.

"Marcos is being endorsed by this group as if it is natural so a bandwagon is created. That bandwagon is including Sara Duterte. If it's only Marcos, it's not as strong as it is," Manhit said, noting that the tandem's "unity" is their strength.

Manhit also said this is the reason people tend to "trust" Marcos more as shown in the survey.

"Ideally, the camp of VP Leni should go beyond their supporters. How will you penetrate other groups..." he said.

Results of the recent Pulse Asia survey showed that Marcos topped the ranking of presidential candidates with 60%. He scored above 50% in the National Capital Region (57%), Balance Luzon (61%), Visayas (53%) and Mindanao (66%) to dominate his rivals.—LDF, GMA News