Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero ranked among the top preferred senatorial candidates in a recent mock election of students from Cagayan State University’s College of Allied Health Sciences (CSU-CAHS) in Tuguegarao City.
The online survey, called “Likha Pahinarya: Mock Elections Survey 2022”, was conducted from March 12 to 25 and organized by the Likha Pahinarya, the official student publication of CSU-CAHS.
Escudero was voted by almost 60 percent of the 681 respondents in the online survey. The survey samples are eligible to vote in the May 9 Elections.
The veteran legislator has been a consistent favorite among college students and school personnel as indicated by recent surveys conducted by various schools. Last month, 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.
He also ranked No. 2 in the PNU- North Luzon campus, which is located in Alicia, Isabela, where he got the approval of 55 percent of the respondents.
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.
A former senator for two terms, 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.
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), have likewise endorsed Escudero.
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.