Around 1 in every 4 Filipinos may still change their choice of candidates in the May 9 elections, the head of pollster Pulse Asia said yesterday.
Speaking to dzMM, Pulse Asia Research, Inc. President Ronald Holmes said an average of 25% of respondents, since January 2016, have indicated that their choices of candidates may or may not change.
Holmes said the 25% of respondents are composed of those saying their choices may still change and those saying they cannot determine whether they will stick to their original choices.
“Twenty-five percent [of respondents] in our surveys from January onwards ang nagsasabi na may posibilidad [na magbago]. Nahahati ito sa dalawang grupo, iyung nagsasabi na posibleng magbago at nagsasabing hindi nila masabi kung magbabago o hindi. Iyun ang undecided,’’ he said.
“Kapag binuo mo ang grupo na iyan, iyan ang tinatawag na one-fourth na maaring mag-shift. Malaki siya.”
Holmes said the remaining days before the May 9 polls will be crucial for these type of voters, noting that anything that a candidate will say or get involved in will likely impact how soft voters make up their minds.
“Meron pa ring ilang araw na may magaganap na mga events na maaaring makatulong o makasama sa sinuman sa mga tumatakbo,’’ he said.
“Hindi natin masabi kung ano ang mga ihahayag ng mga kandidato na makakapagpa-pirme ng kanilang suporta o magpapalusaw ng suporta nila.”
Holmes added that there are factors, other than developments involving candidates, that might make certain voters change their minds.
“Maaring maimpluwensyahan sila ng pamilya, patalastas, at ng huling maririnig nila galing sa mga kandidato…Maaring ‘di na pumunta iyan sa voting precincts. Maaring iboto pa nila ang nasabing iboboto nila, o maaring mag-sway sila sa ibang kandidato,’’ he said.
Holmes said the survey was conducted amid the controversy involving Duterte’s alleged millions of pesos of undeclared wealth. (ABS CBN News)