Leni Robredo hopes to widen lead in campaign homestretch

Liberal Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo on Monday said she hopes to widen her lead over erstwhile frontrunner Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the vice-presidential preference surveys in the last two weeks of the election campaign. 

“Noong nag-uumpisa ako, at least iyong first few months, parang napaka-imposibleng kakayanin na humabol. Pero ngayon, nagkatotoo na,” Robredo said. 

“Hindi pa comfortable ang lead. Hairline pa iyong gap pero sana kaya kayaning ma-maintain sa last 14 days,” she added. 

Robredo, the running mate of former Interior Sec. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, posted the biggest jump in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) from April 18 to 20. 

She posted a rating of 26 percent, a one-point lead over Marcos, who got 25 percent. The two candidates are statistically tied in the survey of 1,800 registered voters with sampling error margins of ±2 points.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, meanwhile, was at third place with 18 percent, a three-point drop from his previous rating. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano trailed closely behind with 16 percent.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Gringo Honasan, meanwhile, garnered 5 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

Robredo attributed her improved ranking in the survey to her campaign sorties. 

“Malapit na malapit na pero tingin ko naman, mabuti naman iyong naging resulta ng ilang buwan na pag-iikot,” she said. 

“Iyong surveys kasi, napakahalaga din iyon kasi, iyon ang nag-ga-guide sa amin kung saan pa kami kailangang mag-ikot, kung saan kami mahina, saan kami malakas,” Robredo added. 

Robredo is scheduled to attend an assembly of barangay leaders in Central Luzon on Monday with Roxas and President Benigno Aquino III. — RSJ, GMA News