Presidential candidate and Filipino boxing hero, Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, Feb. 23 called certain survey groups as "bogus" and mere "money-making ventures" in the hunt for gullible candidates as victims.

In an interview with newsmen, Pacquiao disclosed that he had been approached by individuals who have apparently tried to sell him the idea of floating his name as the leader in the May 2022 presidential race through poll surveys.
“Siguro ang ilang kandidato may sumusubok talaga ng ganoon. Bakit natin gagawin iyon? Nasaan na ang respeto nasaan ang sinasabing love for God and country? (It is possible that some candidates have tried it. Why would we do that? Where is respect and love for God and country in that?)” he said.
Pacquiao agreed that there are indeed "fly-by-night" poll firms that prey on candidates who are willing to shell out huge money just to see their names in the win column of fake poll surveys.
He was approached by some but was quick in rejecting their offers.
Earlier, faculty members of the University of the Philippines School of Statistics told the public to be discerning in considering the results of poll surveys published in the media.
There are also surveys conducted by public relations firms that count politicians, including current candidates, as former and current clients.
Candidates in the win column are usually quick in releasing to the media the positive results of such surveys.
The UP professors said: “Surveys reveal facts, beliefs, sentiments and opinions based on a representation of the population. However, the quality of any inference cannot rise above the quality of the methodology it is based upon. Biased methodologies will only give biased results.”
Pacquiao has repeatedly rejected results of poll surveys in his bid to become the next president of the country.
“Ang survey parang guide lang kasi iyan ng mga kandidato. Pero ang mga mamamayan natin hindi pare-pareho ang isip (Surveys are mere guides for candidates. But our citizens have varying views),” he stated.
Pacquiao has placed third among presidentiables in the recent Pulse Asia survey.