House Deputy Speaker and Buhay Partylist Rep. LIto Atienza on Monday, Nov. 21 slammed as “biased”and “smacked of political propaganda” the poll surveys being conducted by Publicus Asia, a firm that seeks to become a “one stop shop in campaigns management whether this be political corporate or public interest.”
Appearing at the weekly Pandesal Forum, Atienza told a virtual news conference that the public should not give credence to political poll surveys the public relation firm has been conducting.
“I cannot accept the words of Malou Tiquia simply because bias siya, the surveys they condcut smacked of political propaganda,” said Atienza, running mate of PROMDI presidential aspirant Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.
Tiquia is the founder and chief executive officer of Publicus Asia.
“Huwag mo paniwalaan iyan, parang niloloko mo lang ang sarili mo kung paniniwalaan mo iyan. (Do not believe that, you’re just fooling yourself if you will believe that.)”, Atienza said in response to a question raised by a reporter about political surveys.
In its website, Publicus Asia said it was founded in 2003 and has since “effectively represented our clients before local, national and international governments by providing targeted fully integrated consulting services.” “Publicus has set the standards in a nascent industry in the Philippines: Lobbying and Political Campaigns management.” In a recent survey which Publicus Asia described as “independent and non-commissioned”, former Senator Ferdinand “Bong”Bong Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte topped the polling for presidential and vice presidential aspirants, respectively.
The public relations firm said it polled 1,500 respondents from approximately 200,000 registered voters in the country for its 2021 Pahayag Final List survey conducted from Nov. 16 to 18.
In its October 11-18 survey, Publicus Asia said Marcos led the presidential race while then PDP-Laban vice presidential bet Senator Christopher “Bong” Go led the VP contest.
Atienza argued that the surveys conducted by the firm are aimed only at creating a “bandwagon” effect.
“Pagdating sa pulitika kung sino ang kliyente nila iyon ang nananalo. (When it comes to politics whoever is their client wins),” the veteran administration lawmaker claimed.
He then recalled the 1998 mayoralty race in Manila which he won over the more popular and powerful then former Senate President Ernesto Maceda.
According to Atienza there were no poll surveys conducted then but almost nobody gave him a chance of winning the elections.