MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo’s nine-point rise in the latest Pulse Asia survey shows the campaign momentum that will only further intensify until elections day, her spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said.
Marcos campaign spokesperson Vic Rodriguez meanwhile said they are focused on raising presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's ratings up to 70%.
"The survey numbers are starting to reflect what we have been seeing on the ground all along: the massive crowds, the fierce passion, the untiring commitment of Filipinos from all walks of life, coming together to rally behind Leni Robredo’s bid for the presidency," Gutierrez said in a statement.
"What we are seeing now is the turning of the tide," he added.
Although Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Marcos maintained his top spot in the pre-elections survey with 56%, he however recorded a four-point drop.
Meanwhile, Robredo remained at the second spot but climbed by nine points in the latest survey to 24% from 15%.
Voter preference for other presidential candidates was generally unchanged, with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso getting 8%, Sen. Manny Pacquiao with 6% and Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson with 2%.
Robredo campaign: Rise shows campaign momentum
Gutierrez said a change in public sentiment in the last two months before the elections shows that Robredo "has the momentum, which we expect will only further intensify and accelerate all the way to May 9."
The survey was conducted from March 17 to 21, after CNN Philippines held its presidential debates and the Commission on Elections staged its own debates—both events Marcos snubbed. Robredo has also started, during this time, to attract huge crowds at rallies in different parts of the country.
For the campaign team of Marcos, they will be no letup in their campaign even with the majority preference rating of 56%.
"We shall not rest until the 70% preference survey polls position is attained until every vote is counted and the aspirations of the Filipino people become a reality," Rodriguez said.
Three-way fight?
But for the campaign for Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, who came in third with 8%, Aksyon Demokratiko said own survey showed a three-corner contest among Marcos, Robredo and Moreno.
"By Friday, we will discuss before the media a more recent survey done a few days ago that shows it will be a three-corner contest. With Mayor Isko having the best possibility to increase his numbers as the election draws near," Ramel also said.
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, who came in fifth, dismissed the survey, pointing out that what they feel when they go around is different. "I don’t believe it. Based on what we feel on the ground because we don’t remain in our house and watch, we ourselves go [there]," he said in an ambush interview in their campaign leg in Argao, Cebu on Wednesday.
His running mate, Senate President Vicente "Tito" III Sotto, who came in far second to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, meanwhile, said there is "something wrong." — Kristine Joy Patag with reports from Philstar.com/Xave Gregorio, Angelica Y. Yang; The STAR/Marc Jayson Cayabyab