DESPITE being endorsed by the administration, some senatorial candidates fell short from the top list, based on recent electoral surveys. However, candidates shrugged off the result, even questioning its credibility.
Senatorial bet Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu revealed that a former undersecretary asked for money to manipulate results from two survey companies - Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia.
Mangudadatu refused to name the undersecretary for now, however, he said the name will come out in due time.
“May ebidensya ako. May acknowledgment receipt ako na binayad doon sa undersecretary (I have evidence. I possess an acknowledgement receipt that I paid to the undersecretary),” he said on Thursday afternoon during a Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) rally press conference at the San Pedro Square.
Mangudadatu said the former undersecretary is asking for P2 million.
He also confirmed that there are corruptions in the surveys conducted by survey companies.
“Gusto ko sagutin ng Pulse Asia at ng SWS ‘yung paratang ko. Kung papano nila kukunin yung plus minus probabality. Pati tao sa baba, wala (I want Pulse Asia at ng SWS to answer my allegations, as to how they come up with their plus minus probability, considering that there are no one conducting the survey on the field),” Mangudadatu said.
He still believes that the judgment on the position would still be up to the people.
Another senatoriable Jiggy Manicad seconded Mangudadatu’s allegation.
Manicad, a former journalist for almost 20 years, said he had been covering previous elections, saying he had witnessed discrepancies especially in survey results.
“To be honest, di ako naniniwala sa survey. Beyond journalism, marami akong nakikita na di pwede magdetalye,” he said.
Despite being endorsed by the administration, Manicad and Mangudadatu failed to land in the magic 12 slot.
Although the former journalist believes that the president’s endorsement has a bearing to the candidate’s winning in the election.
“Stickiness sa popularity, didikit siya if yung inindorse niya ay identified talaga sa kanya. For example, si Bong Go. Dikit siya, translated na agad since he is close to the president (Stickiness in the popularity would have a bearing especially if you are associated to the president. For example, Bong Go. He is known to be close to the president, which would translate to his popularity),” Manicad said.
Another senatoriable Cynthia Villar also shruged off survey results.
Unlike the two candidates, Villar maintained her slot in the top 12.
“It’s just a survey. Delivery of votes is another thing. You can never be sure,” she said.
Recent surveys from both companies showed common names that would possibly verge to be the top senatoriables on Monday’s midterm poll. These are Pia Cayetano, Christopher “Bong” Go, Sen. Sonny Angara, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito, majority are pro-administration allies.
Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino of the opposition slate Otso Diretso was often included in the top 12 of the surveys while independent candidates reelectionist Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay, and former senator Lito Lapid were usually leading the surveys.