Robredo leading 2022 pre-election polls ‘wishful thinking’: Roque

MANILA – Malacañang on Friday dismissed as “wishful thinking” the results of an online pre-election survey which revealed Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo is the top contender among potential presidential candidates in 2022.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement, after PiliPinas2022.ph, in its online poll in May, showed Robredo emerging as the top pick among the preferred candidates in the 2022 presidential race.

“Mukhang wishful thinking po iyan at hindi ko pa naririnig kung anong polling company na iyan (Perhaps, that is a wishful thinking because I never heard of that polling company),” Roque said during the “Laging Handa” press briefing.

As of press time, the virtual poll by PiliPinas2022.ph showed Robredo earned the highest votes, registering 33.62 percent.

Robredo was followed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, obtaining 22.43 percent of votes.

Other preferred presidential candidates are Senator Manuel “Manny” Pacquiao (14.75 percent), former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (11.35 percent), Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (6.6 percent), Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso (6.47 percent), and Senator Grace Poe (4.38 percent).

Based on its website, PiliPinas2022.ph is an online political survey platform in the country which is designed to gather and display data to serve as an active pulse online platform in Philippine politics for the upcoming 2022 elections.

The online polling firm, however, failed to indicate the total number of respondents participating in the pre-election survey.

Roque questioned the accuracy of the online survey.

“So, hindi ko alam kung anong prosesong ginawa ng kumpanyang ito. At sa totoo lang, hindi ko po naririnig pa iyang kumpanyang iyan (I don’t know what kind of process this company underwent. And frankly speaking, I never heard of that company),” he said.

Roque added that he would rather believe in “reputable” polling firms which have “clear” procedures in conducting surveys.

“Ang pinaniniwalaan ko ay ang mga pinagkakatiwalaang polling companies na malinaw po kung paano ‘yung procedure nila. Bagama’t 1,200 lang ang kanilang mga sample kasi kapag talagang random po ang statistical surveys natin eh nagiging accurate naman (I trust reputable polling companies with clear procedures. Although they 1,200 sample, the random statistical surveys are accurate),” he said.

Roque did not name any polling companies, but Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations are the most popular in the country.

According to the February 22 to March 4 pre-election survey by Pulse Asia, Duterte topped the list of possible presidential bets next year, getting the nod of 27 percent of 2,400 registered Filipino voters.

Robredo only ranked fourth, with a national voter preference of 7 percent.

Robredo on Monday said the opposition should only have one presidential candidate to increase its chances of winning against Duterte’s anointed standard-bearer.

Roque, in response to Robredo’s statement, taunted Tuesday the opposition to field a “thousand” candidates in next year’s presidential derby.