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MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – It’s bad news for vice-presidential candidate Alan Peter Cayetano, according to the latest Manila Standard survey released on Tuesday, March 8.
The poll, conducted by Laylo Research Strategies, showed that the number of respondents who would vote for Cayetano dropped across all regions since the group’s last survey in January. The latest one was conducted from February 24 to March 1 with 3,000 respondents.
Cayetano’s rating stands at 11% nationwide, a 4-percentage-point decrease from 15% in January.
He is at 4th place, trailing behind poll front runner Francis “Chiz” Escudero (30%), Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr (24%), and Leni Robredo (20%).
The standings of the candidates are as follows:
- Chiz Escudero – 30%
- Bongbong Marcos – 24%
- Leni Robredo – 20%
- Alan Peter Cayetano – 11%
- Antonio Trillanes IV – 7%
- Gringo Honasan – 4%
The senator from Taguig City is the only vice-presidential bet to experience loss in support in all regions.
But his numbers dipped the most in regions where his standard-bearer Rodrigo Duterte experienced an improvement in ratings. (READ: Poe, Duterte, Binay ‘tied’ for top spot – Laylo poll)
Cayetano lost the most in the National Capital Region. His rating dropped by 10 percentage points – from 17% in January to 7% in February. NCR or Metro Manila went instead to Escudero and Marcos with 31% each.
Duterte gained a measly 1 percentage point – from 22% in January to 23% in February – in the same region.
In Mindanao, where Duterte is the top choice for president, Cayetano experienced a 5-point drop – from 24% in January to 19% in February.
Mindanao’s top choices for vice president are Escudero and Marcos who are tied at the top stop with 22% and 21%, respectively.
Cayetano’s fading support was also reflected in his ratings according to economic class. He lost across all economic groups by 4 to 5 points.
Lack of knowledge about Cayetano was the most cited reason that respondents gave for not voting him (17%). Respondents also said they have not heard of projects he has done (16%), he lacks experience in government (15%), and he is all talk and no action (13%).
Self-effacing Cayetano
Given the survey numbers, it seems Cayetano’s pair-up with Duterte has not been effective in swaying voters to support him.
Could one reason be Duterte’s heavy campaigning in the Ilocos region throughout February, a region seen as the stronghold of vice-presidential bet Marcos Jr? (READ: The simmering love triangle of Duterte, Cayetano, Marcos)
During these visits, Cayetano was noticeably subdued, even skipping some of the sorties. Duterte’s presence in the Solid North also drew attention to the burgeoning support for a Duterte-Marcos tandem.
On the campaign trail, Cayetano also tends to be self-effacing, devoting the majority of his speeches to praising Duterte instead of talking about himself.
Indeed, in a recent Rizal province sortie, Cayetano said he does not mind voters choosing a different vice president.
“My request will not be to change your mind and vote for me, my request would be to vote for mayor Duterte,” he told an audience of around a hundred people.
He has previously told media that if Duterte had not accepted him as a running mate and asked him to be his campaign manager instead, he would have done so.
But Duterte takes pains to remind his supporters to vote for Cayetano, saying, “If you can’t vote for Alan, don’t vote for me.”
Reacting to the results on Wednesday, March 9, Duterte said, “We have to work harder, Alan has to work harder, I have to work harder for Alan. Kasama ko siya (I’m with him). I will not abandon him.” – Pia Ranada/Rappler.com
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