Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero is ranked No. 1 in the senatorial mock polls conducted by La Salle University in Ozamiz City from March 23-25, during which 47% of the college students said they would vote for the veteran lawmaker.
According to the University Student Government, 1,449 students took part in the “LSU Votes: Philippine Mock Election 2022,” which was held in partnership with the school’s Commission on Elections, the Integrated School Student Government, and the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants.
Escudero, the only incumbent governor who is seeking a fresh six-year mandate in the Senate, has been a consistent favorite among student 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.
He 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.
Escudero is among the preferred senatorial candidates of students of Mindanao State University (MSU) on its main campus in Marawi City and its satellite campuses in Iligan City and General Santos City.
Last March, Escudero emerged as the top pick of students from Sorsogon State University (SSU and has likewise won the hearts of the University of Santo Tomas (US) community, including him among their preferred senatorial candidates in next month’s national polls.
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 choices for senator after almost 60% of the respondents who took part in an online survey said they would vote for him.
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.
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.
“If elected again, I will 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.”
On surveys conducted by independent pollsters and research firms, he 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 Rodrigo 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.
He 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.
