Voters prey to ‘client’ politics

FILIPINO VOTERS remain easy prey for clientelistic campaigning, a political science analyst said, as the Tulfo-led ACT-CIS dominate a party-list survey conducted by research firm Acquisition Apps, Inc.

“The angle of clientelism is also facilitated by the fact [that] the emerging middle class and electorate are themselves brought up in clientelistic norms,” Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“It doesn’t say anything new about Filipino voters: they remain vulnerable and due to lack of progressive legislation/policy regulation that uplifts their economic conditions, they will remain vulnerable, which makes them easy prey for clientelistic campaigning,” he added.

Mr. Juliano was reacting to a survey made by Acquisition Apps which showed ACT-CIS is poised to win three seats at the House of Representatives in next year’s midterm elections.

In an e-mail statement on Wednesday night, the survey showed the group garnered the top rank with 11.21% voter preference.

Other party-lists projected to win two seats were 4Ps party list (3.66%); Ako Bicol Party list (3.58%); 1-Rider Party list (2.82%); ACT Teachers Party list (2.67%); and GABRIELA Party list (2.51%).

Meanwhile, Malasakit@Bayanihan Party List (1.83%), AGRI (1.68%), Duterte Youth Party List (1.68%), Senior Citizens Party List (1.60%), and Ako Bisaya Party List (1.52%) are among 39 incumbent party-list groups expected to secure a seat.

Two newcomers were seen winning a seat, with Solid North Party List (1.07%) and FPJ Panday Bayanihan (FPJPB) Party list (1.00%).

The survey was conducted last Oct. 1 to 4, with 2,400 respondents. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana