Robredo tops CEAP survey

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo topped a recent survey for presidential candidates conducted by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP).

Robredo garnered 52.75 percent or 1,624 preference votes, followed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who got 24.54 percent or 758 votes. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno ranked third with 9.61 percent or 297 votes while Sen. Panfilo Lacson was fourth placer with 3.53 percent or 109 votes.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao landed in the fifth spot with 0.87 percent or 27 votes and labor leader Leody de Guzman received 0.26 percent or eight votes.

CEAP said 8.61 percent of the respondents or 266 voted to abstain.

The Second 2022 National Election Pulse Google Survey conducted by the CEAP Research Unit from Jan. 24 to Feb. 4 used 3,089 respondents belonging to the voting age 18-25, 26-35, 36-45, 46-55 and 56 and older.

Robredo got the highest number of votes in all the age groups, except among the students and alumni groups where Marcos was shown to have the upper hand.

For the vice presidential survey, Robredo’s running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan also ranked number one with 30.37 percent or 938 preference votes. Marcos’ running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was at close second with 26.84 percent or 829 votes.

According to CEAP, Robredo dominated in 11 regions while Marcos had the most votes in five regions. Pacquiao only led in one region.

The top 12 senatorial candidates in the CEAP survey are Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero with 1,728 votes; Sen. Risa Hontiveros, 1,569; human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, 1,563; Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, 1,229; Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, 1,216; Antique Rep. Loren Legarda, 1,117; Sen. Joel Villanueva, 1,065; Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, 1,043; Sen. Richard Gordon, 1,042; broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo with 947; former senator Antonio Trillanes IV with 857 and Sen. Leila de Lima with 822 votes.

The labor coalition Nagkaisa maintained is support for Robredo and Pangilinan.

“We are convinced that the Leni-Kiko tandem is the better choice for the nation and will advance the welfare of the working class,” the coalition said in a statement.

The Robredo-Pangilinan team is better than the frontrunners not only because of their qualifications but primarily due to their commitment to the labor agenda drafted by workers.

Nagkaisa said the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines signed the covenant containing the labor agenda. But the TUCP opted to endorse Marcos and Duterte-Carpio.

Meanwhile, Robredo yesterday expressed hope that the Comelec would approve their request to continue with the COVID-19 programs of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

The OVP suspended its programs earlier this month pending the decision of the Comelec on its petition for exemption on the public spending ban.

Under Comelec rules, a certificate of exemption is required for public works and social welfare projects, activities and programs during the campaign period.

Among the programs the OVP suspended were its vaccination, swab testing and online consultation. – Mayen Jaymalin, Janvic Mateo