Pulse Asia disowns Davao City survey showing FPRRD, family members ahead in polls
Pulse Asia has disowned a survey that was allegedly conducted and released under its name in Davao City from April 26 to May 6 that purportedly showed former president Rodrigo Duterte, his sons, grandson, and a close ally commanding huge advantage in the forthcoming local elections.
In a statement sent to the Manila Bulletin, Pulse Asia Research Inc. President Ronald D. Holmes said the agency “did not conduct any such survey in Davao City during the stated period.”
The allegedly false survey report was circulated in Davao City as “the latest Pulse Asia 2025 Electoral Preference Survey (that was) conducted from April 26 to May 6.”
“We strongly denounce any unauthorized use of our name to disseminate false or misleading information,” Holmes maintained as he noted that “since our founding in 1999, Pulse Asia has upheld the highest professional standards in conducting surveys and research.”
Pulse Asia’s statement came after a report, emanating from Davao City, said that the former president, who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands on charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC), enjoyed a massive 83 percent preference for Davao City mayor against his closest rival and former Cabinet member Karlo Nograles, who was reported to have only eight percent.
The survey also said his son and current Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte was leading the vice mayoral race with 75 percent preference among voters, another son Paolo “Pulong” Duterte ahead in the congressional race in the first district of Davao City with 57 percent preference, his grandson Omar Vicente Duterte was also reported to be holding a 52 percent edge in the race for the second district congressional seat.
A long-time ally, Rep. Isidro Ungab, was included in the survey as enjoying a comfortable lead in the third district congressional derby.