CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – For presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, getting a zero voter preference in Visayas and Mindanao could be a "blessing in disguise".
Lacson, who conducted a press conference in this city on Thursday, May 5, said the zero voter preference would give him a challenge and his team’s support groups to work hard in the campaign.
“Giving me zero voters’ preference na score sa Visayas and Mindanao could be a blessing in disguise kasi nacha-challenge yung aming mga Lacson-Sotto support group,” said Lacson.
“Here in Cagayan de Oro nandito ang aming support group and elsewhere, Visayas and Mindanao, medyo nagagalit at nacha-challenge so they are prompted to do more and to work harder,” he added.
According to the latest survey by Pulse Asia Research, Lacson garnered a 2% overall voter preference. The presidential aspirant scored 0% in the Visayas and Mindanao. The survey was conducted on April 16-21.
Lacson ranked fifth in the Pulse Asia survey behind mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso (fourth) with 4%; Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao (third) 7%; vice president Leni Robredo (second) with 23%; and, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who remains in the top spot with 56%.
Lacson, meanwhile, stressed that he did not feel the zero voter preference based on the support provided by the supporters when they visited the different parts of Mindanao.
“We were in Ampatuan town sa Maguindanao kanina and we were around the Mindanao sometime in the past sa Cotabato, Davao marami rin kaming napuntahan. Hindi ko talaga feel yung zero voter preference na binibigay ng survey firm,” Lacson said.
Vice presidential aspirant Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto, on the other hand, urged the public to vote for the candidates who would help the people in times of the disaster and not only depend on the survey.
“Instead of believing the surveys, think of those candidates yung may nagawa para sa inyo at may ginagawa para sa inyo at pag ka may panganib, may danger, katulad ng Covid-19 at kung ano man, ay hindi nagtatago,” said Sotto.
“Yung nagsimula ‘yung campaign period, hindi pa naman alert level 1. Kami pa yung maingat, sila yung walang ingat. Baliktad. Pero noong na lockdown, kami naman yung sugod ng sugod kasi kailangan ipasa ang Bayanihan 1 at Bayanihan 2, sila naman yung nasa harap ng computer ayaw pumasok,” Lacson added.
In the same Pulse Asia survey, Sotto ranked second in the vice presidential race with 18% behind Davao city mayor Sara Duterte, the running mate of Marcos Jr., who remains at the top spot with 55%.
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan ranked third with 16%; followed by Dr. Willie Ong with 3% and Manny Lopez with 1%.