Lacson, Sotto lament mind-conditioning effect of pre-election surveys

TUGUEGARAO, Cagayan—Presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson and his running mate Vicente Sotto III have lamented the “mind-conditioning” caused by pre-election surveys.

“Yan ang malungkot,” Lacson and Sotto said almost in unison when asked about the influence of surveys on the choices of voters.

(That’s the sad reality.)

“Mayroong maski papaano mind conditioning na nangyayari,” Lacson said.

(There’s a slight mind conditioning that is happening.)

Despite the effect of these surveys to the possibility of winning the elections, the presidential bet said they will push through with the campaign as he maintained that the real survey will come on the election day.

“That doesn’t mean di kami magwo-work harder… Kami, basta’t maghintay kami ng election. At tiyaka maski zero pa ako sa survey, tutuloy pa rin ako kasi ‘di ako naninwalang zero ako sa survey,” Lacson said.

(That doesn’t mean we will not work harder. As far as we are concerned, we will wait for the elections. Even if I got zero in surveys, I will push through because I don’t believe that I got zero rating in some areas.)

The presidential bet also questioned the results of the recent surveys, reiterating that what he feels on the ground doesn’t reflect on the numbers he got in the pollsters.

“I find it difficult to understand and believe na base sa sarili kong naramdaman sa ground, parang di ko kayang tanggapin na pagkatapos pa ng mga presidential forums and interviews, lalo pa akong lalagapak? Parang ewan ko,” Lacson said.

(I find it difficult to understand and believe the results because I feel differently when I am on the ground. After the presidential forums and interviews, how did my ratings further declined?)

“Malalaman na lang sa May 9, diyan magkakaintindihan. Ibig sabihn 1.2 million lang boto kasi 60 million ang voters?” he asked.

(We will know on May 9 because if the surveys are to believe, I will only get 1.2 million because there are 60 million voters for the upcoming polls.)

For his part, Sotto pointed that there are many survey results, explaining anew that these studies are only a “snapshot of that day.”

“We must remember it is merely a snapshot of that particular day or days. It does not mean that that will be the snapshot on May 9. Basta as far as I know we will finish strong. We are confident. Yan ang amin,” Sotto said.

In the latest Pulse Asia Survey, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. maintained the lead with 60%, followed by Vice President Leni Robredo with 15%,  Manila Mayor Isko Moreno with 10%.

Senator Manny Pacquiao ranked fourth with 8% rating while Lacson settled for fifth place with 2%.

The rest of the presidential candidates namely Faisal Mangondato, Leody de Guzman, Jose Montemayor, Jr., Ernesto Abella and Norberto Gonzales scored 0.4% or less.

There were 4% of respondents who are undecided.

According to the same Pulse Asia survey, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte dominated her rivals in the 2022 vice presidential race for the second straight pre-election Pulse Asia poll, scoring 53% as against Sotto who rated 24%.

Sotto's rating fell from 29% from a Pulse Asia survey released a month ago.

Apart from the Lacson and Sotto tandem, Aksyon Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel also questioned the study, claiming that the latest Pulse Asia survey did not show the current preferred presidential candidates of the public.

Moreno is running for president under Aksyon Demokratiko.

The Pulse Asia poll used face-to-face interviews on 2,400 respondents aged 18 years old and above, who are registered voters and likely to vote in the May 2022 elections.

The Pulse Asia survey has a ± 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level.

Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a ± 4% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. —NB, GMA News