Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero was the top pick senatorial bet in a recent mock election among students from Sorsogon State University (SSU), reaffirming his strong leadership and solid track record and accomplishments as chief executive of the province.
An overwhelming 78.6% of the student respondents said they would vote for Escudero, a veteran lawmaker, if elections were held on March 24, when the SSU conducted the mock polls from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The mock election was organized by the university’s Federation of Student Council (FSC), with respondents coming from all the campuses of SSU in the towns of Bulan, Castilla and Magallanes, and Sorsogon City. Those who participated in the mock polls are all eligible voters.
Escudero has been a consistent favorite among respondents as indicated by surveys and mock elections conducted by various colleges and universities in the country.
Escudero was also the No. 1 choice for senator among respondents in the survey conducted by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), which is composed of more than 1,525 member-schools.
In February, the governor emerged as the number one choice for senator among respondents in the survey conducted by the Philippine Normal University- Mindanao Campus, garnering 59.46 percent of the total respondents.
In “Likha Pahinarya: Mock Elections Survey 2022,” which was conducted from March 12 to 25 and organized by the Likha Pahinarya, the official student publication of Cagayan State University’s College of Allied Health Sciences in Tuguegarao City, Escudero was among the top picks for senator after almost 60% of the respondents who took part in an online survey said they would vote for him.
A former senator for 12 years, Escudero said he would focus on giving more autonomy to local government units, ensure the judicious and wise utilization of the annual budget, and help transition the pandemic-weary economy to recovery, among others, if elected again.
On surveys conducted by independent pollsters and research firms, the former senator has consistently maintained his top position. Recently, Escudero remained the No. 1 choice for senator in the Publicus Asia opinion poll conducted from March 9-14, with almost 50 percent of the respondents giving him their vote of approval.
President Duterte has endorsed Escudero’s senatorial bid, saying the governor will play a big role in crafting key pieces of legislation and reforms at a time when the country is besieged with challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor and vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio is personally backing Escudero’s Senate comeback bid.
The tandems of Senator Ping Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto; Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Kiko Pangilinan; and Senator Manny Pacquiao and Rep. Lito Atienza have adopted Escudero in their senatorial slates.
The former senator is also endorsed by several party-list groups, including Ang Probinsyano, Ang Kabuhayan, Agimat, An Waray, ARISE, BHW, BTS, Kusog Bikolano, and KAPUSO-PM.
Mayors from CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Eastern Samar, who belong to the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), are likewise backing Escudero’s Senate return.
The 200,000-strong Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), one of the biggest non-government organizations in the country, has committed to campaign for Escudero.