WITH less than 30 days left before the May 9 elections, more members of Congress and local executives are expected “to flee and jump off their sinking ships.”
In a statement, Anakalusugan Rep. Michael T. Defensor said they expect politicians who are still supporting other presidential and vice-presidential candidates to swing their political support in favor of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his running mate Sara Duterte.
Lawmakers and local officials who publicly expressed support to the Marcos-Duterte tandem include Bukidnon Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri Jr., Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez, Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez, Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and former energy secretary and gubernatorial candidate Jericho Petilla, Southern Leyte Gov. Damian Mercado and Vice Gov. Christopher Yap, Samar Rep. Sharee Ann Tan, Biliran Gov. Roger Espina and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“Every politician wants to be in the good graces of the next president. Nobody really wants to stick out like a sore thumb as the governor of a province, or the mayor of a city, or the representative of a district where the next president lost,” said Defensor. Defensor is the Marcos-Duterte tandem’s mayoral candidate for Quezon City, the country’s largest city by population and registered voters.
Earlier, the Nacionalista Party (NP) and the PDP-Laban’s Alfonso Cusi’s wing also formally endorsed the candidacies of Marcos and Duterte.
Based on the latest surveys, Defensor described as “unbeatable” the Marcos-Duterte tandem’s “commanding lead” in the races for president and vice president.
“We would not be surprised if Bongbong is now receiving phone calls from members of Congress, governors, and mayors conveying their assurances that they are absolutely committed to supporting him as the next president,” Defensor said.
In the March 17-21 Pulse Asia survey, Marcos is favored by 56 percent of the voters, whereas Robredo is favored by 24 percent.
In a separate March 17-22 poll by Laylo Research Strategies, Marcos is preferred by 61 percent of the voters, whereas Robredo is preferred by 19 percent.
In the vice presidential contest, Duterte is favored by 56 percent of the voters, whereas Robredo’s vice-presidential running mate, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, is favored by 15 percent, according to the Pulse Asia poll.
In the Laylo survey, Duterte is preferred by 60 percent of the voters as the next vice president.