Lacson, Moreno: Eleksyon 2022 surveys may be compromised

Presidential candidates Senator Panfilo Lacson and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Sunday claimed that survey results for the 2022 polls may be "polluted" and may have been be paid for to favor certain candidates.

In a press conference on Sunday in Makati, Moreno said they already have evidence to prove that surveys such as those from Pulse Asia and SWS may be “polluted” and are influenced by political oligarchs.

“If we believe in surveys, sana wala kami dito ngayon. The fact na nandito kami, and we will prove it to you later, subject to verification, that we could prove to you na polluted ‘yung surveys. We have evidence, we are just verifying na ‘yung mga enumerators ay napasok na ng mga malalaking or what you call political oligarchs,” he said.

(If we believe in surveys, we won’t be here today. The mere fact that we are here, and we will prove it to you later, subject to verification of evidence, that the surveys are polluted. We are verifying if political oligarchs have already influenced the enumerators.)

“Pulse Asia and SWS may not know it because they are the ones doing the analysis, but the raw data that they are getting maybe subject to further study kasi hawak-hawak namin ngayon na nahuli na namin ‘yung gumagawa ng survey sa kalsada [the one who conduct surveys in the streets has already been arrested],” he added.

For his part, Lacson said that voters are usually looking at top candidates, and are no longer assessing the qualifications of those vying for the top national post.

“Nakapako tayo sa perceived winners -- rightly or wrongly. What if nabibili nga ‘yung surveys? Not the survey firms ano but those…kasi naka-outsource naman ‘yan eh. Maraming nag-u-udyok sa akin bakit hindi natin alamin, pasukan ‘yang gumagawa ng field work para umangat tayo sa surveys? Sabi ko why should we do that? Lolokohin natin mga sarili natin?” he said.

(We readily latch on to perceived winners -- rightly or wrongly. What if the surveys are being bought? Not the survey firms but those… because they are outsourced. Many are urging me to get into those doing the field work to improve our rating? But why should we do that? Are we going to fool ourselves?)

Scientific method

In response, Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes told GMA News Online that they use scientific methods in doing their surveys.

“For more than two decades, Pulse Asia employs scientific methods in conducting its surveys. We have also secured the integrity of our field work across the years,” he said.

'Change the challenger' 

Former Defense Secretary and presidential candidate Norberto Gonzales who was present in the Makati event with Lacson, and Moreno, urged the public to consider another candidate, aside from “player number two” to challenge former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. 

In the March results of the Pulse Asia survey, Marcos remained on top among presidential candidates despite scoring 56%, down from 60% in February.

In contrast, Vice President Leni Robredo saw her rating go up to 24% from the previous 15%, further distancing herself from third placer Moreno, whose rating went down two notches from 10% to 8%.

“Eh baka ‘yung may diperensya, kung gusto nating talunin ang number 1, baka dapat palitan natin ‘yung player natin sa number 2. Ang layo po kasi ng diperensya. Ang isa sa ibig sabihin niyan, ayaw ng kababayan natin na ang number 2 ang lumaban sa number 1 sa laban,” Gonzales said.

(If we really want to beat the number 1, maybe the problem is with the number 2. The difference between them is big. It may mean that our countrymen don't want number 2 to fight number 1.)

He said that candidate number 2 should be replaced and the numbers 3, 4, 5, 6 should be considered at this time.

He added that there should be a new number 2 to challenge the top candidate.

“Baka nandoon ang pwedeng lumaban sa number 1 na hinahanap ng taumbayan natin. Napaka-importante na bigyan natin ng pagkakataon,” Gonzales said.

(Maybe there is someone who can challenge the number 1. It is very important that we give other contenders a chance.)

On the other hand, Moreno pushed further his claim that some Marcos supporters are only backing the candidate because of hatred towards the “dilawan” (yellow politicians) or the “pinklawan” (combination of yellow and pink) which is associated with Robredo.

“Baka naman hindi dahil sa gusto nila si former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. kaya lang siguro nila gusto because they hate so much ‘yung dilawan. I have never seen recently that one party is getting zero result sa halalan sa Senado. Kung maalala niyo ‘yung ‘Otso Inodoro,’” he said.

“Baka nga sa sobrang galit sa dilaw o yellow-pink kaya sila napupunta kay former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Pero I’m pretty sure may gusto din kay Marcos. But, I don’t believe that 60% of the Filipino is loyalists. Let’s be honest to ourselves,” he added.

(Maybe some of Marcos’ supporters are supporting him because they hate the dilawans so much. I have never seen one party getting a zero result in a Senate election. If you remember the "Otso Deretcho" senatorial slate. Maybe the voters are so angry with the yellow or yellow-pink that they are forced to go for Marcos.)

Asked if the three presidential bets conducted the press conference because they were angry at Robredo, Moreno said, “Hindi rin (no).”

Despite criticizing Robredo, Lacson stressed that he does not also want Marcos to win the presidential race as it may result in “destabilization.”

“We don’t also want Marcos to win kasi destablization ‘yung aabutin natin. Imagine the situation, nanalo siya, hindi titigil ‘tong kabila. There will be a continuing destabilization in this country. Sawang sawa na tayo sa destabilization. Baka pwedeng ‘yung ibang alternative naman that can really and genuinely unite our people na colorblind,” he said.

Lacson, Gonzales, and Moreno earlier in the day announced that they will unite and will not withdraw their respective presidential bids three weeks before the May 9 polls. —with a report from Mel Matthew Doctor/LBG, GMA News