MANILA – Malacañang welcomed the findings of a pre-election poll on Wednesday that placed Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and President Rodrigo Duterte atop the list of Filipinos’ top picks for president and vice president.
According to the Pulse Asia poll, which had 2,400 respondents and was conducted from June 7 to 16, roughly 28% of Filipinos want Sara to run for president, while 18% want President Duterte to run for vice president.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa tiwala ng taongbayan na ibinigay kay Presidente at kay Mayor Sara Duterte (We thank the people for their trust in President and Mayor Sara Duterte),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
The study results, according to Roque, reveal that Filipinos are unconcerned about attempts by Duterte’s critics and adversaries to discredit him or harm his family’s reputation.
“Yan po’y nagpapakita na kahit ano pang ipukol ng mga kritiko ni Presidente laban sa kanya ay patuloy pa rin pong nagtitiwala at naniniwala ang sambayanang Pilipino sa liderato po ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte (That shows that no matter what the President’s critics throw at him, the Filipino people continue to trust and believe in the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte),” he added.
Sara received the greatest voter preference in Metro Manila, according to the Pulse Asia poll, with 18% of the vote. It was followed by Balance Luzon (17%) and Visayas and Mindanao (14%).
She also received support of 17% of respondents in Class D, 12% in Class E, and 10% in Class ABC.
Duterte, on the other hand, scored the highest score in his bailiwick, in Mindanao (35%) followed by the Visayas (14%), Balance Luzon (13%) and Metro Manila (11%).
He also received a lot of support from voters in Classes ABC (14%), D (18%), and E (16%).
Senator Grace Poe and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. were also preferred presidential candidates (13% each), Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (12%) and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (9%).
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” enjoyed the second spot in terms of the preferred candidates in the vice presidential race, getting 14% followed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Marcos (10% each), Pacquiao (9%), Alan Peter Cayetano (8%), Francis “Chiz” Escudero (7%), Go (5%), television host Willie Revillame (4%), and Senator Juan Edgardo Angara (3%).
At the 95% confidence level, Pulse Asia utilized a ±2 percent error margin.
Duterte revealed in his regular Talk to the People on Monday night, that he is only considering running as vice president next year to “scare off” his critics.
“Ako naman yung vice president ko, pangtakot ko lang sa kanila ‘yan pero sabi ko (I am only using my willingness to run as vice president to scare them, but I said) let us see. If it is good for the country, I will do it. If it does not contribute anything to our Republic, huwag nalang. Magsasayang lang tayo ng oras pati (maybe not. We will just waste time and) you contribute to the conundrum of the moment,” he said.
He also expressed disapproval after Sara showed “openness” to running for president, stating he would rather have either of his two most vocal detractors, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV or Senator Leila de Lima, win the presidency so they could do “whatever they want.”
“My stand is I am against really the candidacy of my daughter. I want her spared from the vagaries of politics dito sa Pilipinas lalo na itong mga (here in the Philippines especially from) personalities around in the likes of [former Senator Antonio] Trillanes, si [Senator Leila] de Lima, walang ginawa kundi mang-atake ng kapwa tao nila (who did nothing but attack their fellowmen),” he said.
