DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s absence in broadcast interviews have factored in his downward trend in surveys as number one choice for the 2022 presidential race.
Tangere, a market research and opinion poll company, conducted its survey last February 4 to 5 that shows Marcos Jr. still the top preferred presidential candidate.
But his numbers have declined from 60% based on its January 2 survey results, 58% on January 18, and now down to 51.8% on its latest survey released on February 10.
Photo from Aksyon Demokratiko Facebook page
Survey results also showed that one out of three Marcos supporters felt “disappointed” by his no-show at the recent KBP-sponsored event.
Marcos Jr. only appeared in one of the three major media presidential interviews in the past three weeks, which was the ABS-CBN’s One-on-One Interviews by talk show host Boy Abunda aired on January 27.
The son of the late dictator declined the GMA network’s Presidential Interview with Jessica Soho aired on January 22, which he declared as “biased” against him.
He also skipped the Presidential Candidates Forum of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters ng Pilipinas (KBP) on February 4, where he taped an interview for a talk show where he displayed his cooking skills.
Tangere, in a press release, said Marcos’ slip in the ratings showed “the net effect on voter preferences based on the performances and non-appearance of the candidates during the recent media-sponsored presidential candidate forums and interviews.”
Marcos Jr. will also sit out the CNN Philippines presidential forum set on February 26. He did appear on the presidential forum of the Sonshine Media Network on February 15 owned by controversial Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who has openly endorsed Marcos Jr.
Holding the number two slot in Tangere’s ratings is Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, with a 23% rating, which rose from 16.75% in its January 18 survey.
On third spot is Vice President Leni Robredo, whose ratings dipped from 15.08% in January 18 down to 14.71%
Photo from Aksyon Demokratiko Facebook page
Domagoso’s party Aksyon Demokratiko said Moreno’s performance in the media interviews factored in his rise in the ratings.
Domagoso ranked a close second to Marcos Jr in the Tangere survey 43% to 39%, based on the presidential interviews with Boy Abunda.
Other surveys such as Pulse Asia and Social Weather Survey have pegged Moreno Domagoso at third place with below 10% ratings with Robredo ranked at number two.
In the vice presidential survey, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is the top preference with 53% followed by Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III with 19.5 and Dr. Willie Ong with 15.
Tangere’s survey is in partnership with news organization Manila Bulletin which was conducted through mobile survey. — report by Jan Gargallano (davaotoday.com)
