While presidential bet and Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson only obtained a single-digit rating in Pulse Asia’s April survey, he did not record a 0% overall voter preference, contrary to a misleading claim by a Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) host.
In a May 4 segment of SMNI TV show Usaping Bayan, which was posted on Facebook the same day, host Jade Calabroso failed to provide context on Lacson’s survey rating while introducing a report. He said:
Mas gusto ni presidential candidate and Sen. Ping Lacson na paniwalaan ang magiging resulta ng May 9 elections kaysa ang 0% na nakuha niya mula sa pre-election survey ng Pulse Asia (Lacson prefers to believe in the results of the May 9 elections compared to the 0% [voter preference] he received from Pulse Asia’s pre-election survey).
In reality, Lacson garnered a 2% overall voter preference in the latest Pulse Asia survey. The presidential aspirant, however, scored 0% in the Visayas and Mindanao.
SMNI reiterated this misleading claim when it flashed the headline “0% NA NAKUHA NI PRESIDENTIAL BET SEN. PING LACSON SA PULSE ASIA SURVEY, ISINASANTABI” on the report and in the Facebook post caption. Mentions of Visayas and Mindanao only surfaced 43 seconds into the video after the SMNI reporter correctly said Lacson had 0% voter preference in the country’s two island groups.
A day earlier, Lacson expressed his disbelief on his low survey ratings during a press conference with running mate Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and senatorial bet Manny Piñol in Tagaytay City. Lacson was clear in saying he had no votes from survey polls in Visayas and Mindanao at the 3:03 mark:
Napansin ko lang, very noticeable dito sa Leyte, zero ako sa Visayas and zero ako sa Mindanao. Much as I would not like to comment, ang sinasabi ko nalang, the ultimate survey result will be on May 9 (I just noticed, it’s very noticeable here in Leyte, that I got zero here in Visayas and Mindanao. Much as I would not like to comment, what I just say, the ultimate survey result will be on May 9).
Lacson obtained 3% voter preference in both the National Capital Region and the rest of Luzon. Ranking fifth in the survey, he trails behind Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso.
Conducted from April 16 to 21, the Pulse Asia’s pre-election national survey has 2,400 adult respondents.
The survey has a ±2% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates from the four geographic areas covered in the survey – Metro Manila, Balanced Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – have a ±4% error margin, also at 95% confidence level.
The video garnered at least 2,800 views, 252 reactions and 32 comments on Facebook. (JC)