“We wish to clarify that Pulse Asia did not conduct any of this survey,” said Pulse Asia Research Inc. President Ronald Holmes in a statement, following reports of a fake survey circulating on social media.
The survey, which falsely claimed that former President Rodrigo Duterte was leading by more than 55 percent over Davao City mayoral rival Karlo Nograles, was posted on the Facebook page of Maisug Mindanao. The survey, dated April 26 to May 6, 2025, also alleged that other members of the Duterte family were leading in their respective local elections.
Despite the claims, Pulse Asia categorically denied any involvement, emphasizing their commitment to the highest professional standards since their founding in 1999. Holmes condemned the unauthorized use of their name to spread misleading information.
The fake survey sparked backlash online, with netizens accusing the Duterte camp of using disinformation tactics. One Facebook user commented, “Never talaga nagbago mga DDS at kulto. Fake news peddlers noon at ngayon. Karmahin sana kayo!”
Some users even suggested that the fake survey was part of a larger plan to condition the public’s mind and prepare for a possible protest should Duterte lose the election. One user noted, “Mind conditioning, para kapag natalo sila magpoprotesta kasi dinaya. Hahaha galawang PDP.”
Currently, Rodrigo Duterte is in detention in The Hague, Netherlands, facing charges related to human rights violations over alleged extrajudicial killings during his controversial drug war.