By Katrina Gracia Consebido
One of the final presidential survey results expected to be released weeks before the national and local polls may impact the results of the race for the country’s top position, according to political analyst Ramon Casiple.
In an interview with PTV Digital Media, Casiple said it is not the right time to claim a winner in the presidential race basing on who is leading in different surveys, rather, he mentioned to watch out for the latest surveys that will have an impact for the May 9 polls.
“Ayan yung gusto kong bantayan. Mahirap magsabi ngayon eh lalo na nangunguna si Marcos at in a sense malaki laki pa ang lamang niya. Pero third week of March is different from May 9,” he said.
“Mayroon malamang na survey na lalabas…Kaya tingnan natin kung anong kakalabasan sa survey. May impact ‘yan doon sa magiging takbo ng May 9 elections,” he added.
Citing the 2016 vice presidential results between Marcos and Vice President Leni Robredo, Casiple said Robredo didn’t make it to the top of the last survey, but the trend change took place during the elections when Robredo won the people over Marcos.
“Well, kung i-base ko sa [2016] na labanan nila, hindi umabot si Leni kay Marcos sa last survey… Pero maliwanag ‘yung trend na lumalapit, at tanstya ko noong time na ‘yun na aabutin niya pagdating ng election. At ‘yun nga nangyari, inabot, panalo, naungusan si Marcos,” he explained.
Casiple said he is monitoring the campaign rallies of Marcos and Robredo, and on election-related activities to see if Robredo can take a lead in the coming surveys, similar to what happened to their race in 2016.
“In fact, iyon ang binabantayan ko ano, proseso ng pagtakbo ngayon reflected sa mga service at saka sa mga activities gaya ng mga rally,” he said. -ag/ngs