Fresh from discrediting a Pulse Asia survey that placed Vice President Leni Robredo a far second from her main rival, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., senatorial candidate Antonio Trillanes IV claimed on Wednesday, Feb. 16, that even his own candidacy has been on an “upward trajectory” contrary to the poll body's findings.
The Pulse Asia survey, conducted between Jan. 19 and 24, ranked the former senator at 17th to 19th place, a far cry from the Senate "Magic 12".
“Let us just say we have an upward trajectory since I filed my Certificate of Candidacy (COC) in October,” he told CNN, basing his opinion on the Magdalo Group's internal survey. He heads the group.
Trillanes earlier said that this was the same internal survey that accurately predicted his win in 2007 Senate race where he ranked 11th.
Recalling the 2007 elections, he said it was the most difficult for him because he was detained for charges relating to the coup attempts against ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“Wala pong pondo (We have no funds). Nothing, but we eventually won. It is just a matter of reaching out to many people as we can winning their hearts and minds. Iyon po ang challenge sa bawat kandidato (That is the challenge to every candidate),” the former Navy officer added.
Even with the opposition bets' low ranking in the Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations' (SWS) surveys, Trillanes said he still has faith in the Filipino people.
“Ang nakikita natin dito (What we will see here), at some point, the Filipinos alam nila kung sino ‘yung mapagkakatiwalaan nila, sino ‘yung ipaglalaban ‘yung interest nila (will know who they can trust, who will fight for their interests), and we are relying or putting our faith in the hands of the Filipino people,” he added.
During a Facebook Live on Tuesday, Feb. 15, the former senator discredited the Pulse Asia survey results by listing down five reasons: the survey firm’s “dismal track record", flawed methodology, the results of Magdalo Group’s internal survey, the timing, and the on-the-ground energy from Robredo’s supporters.
The senatorial aspirant said that “lots of things can still happen in the course of the 90-day campaign".
Robredo, who is running alongside Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as vice president, shares guest candidates with other parties such as Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero, reelectionist Senators Richard Gordon, Migz Zubiri, and Joel Villanueva, and former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Trillanes lamented that some politicians rely on name recall, saying that if they do, “It only shows what kind of legislator and public servant” they are.
“Kanino ba, sino ba yung tinutulak mo para sa ating bansa? Hindi naman pwedeng wala ka tinutulak. Hindi kasi pwede iyon kasi meron mga kandidato na ikakasama ng ating bayan (Who are you endorsing for our country? You cannot not endorse anyone. That’s not right because there are candidates who will be bad for the country) So, what are you doing?" he asked.
The Robredo-Pangilinan ticket is currently in Aklan province. Trillanes is being represented there by former Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano.