Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero emerged as the second preferred senatorial candidate among students of the Cagayan de Oro City-based University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) based on its recently-concluded “Sinu-sino Para sa 2022?” mock elections.
The online polls, which was conducted from February 26 to 28, was organized by the USTP Student Government-CDO, Department of Research and Information of the Univerity Student Government, and the USTP Society of Information Technology Enthusiasts recognized by the USTP CDO Campus.
Escudero got the nod of 608 out of the 1,111 student respondents, or more than 50 percent of the total survey samples from senior high school and undergraduate students of the USTP-CDO campus.
The veteran legislator has been a consistent favorite among college students and school personnel as indicated by 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.
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.
Several party-list groups are also supporting his Senate return bid, namely Ang Probinsyano, Ang Kabuhayan, Agimat, An Waray, ARISE, BHW, BTS, Kusog Bikolano, KAPUSO-PM, and Magdalo.
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.