PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte placed second in the recent vice presidential survey of Pulse Asia but Malacañang believes that he remains “the candidate to beat” in the 2022 elections.

Palace Spokesman Harry Roque pointed out that survey results are “snapshots of public opinion.”

“The latest Pulse Asia survey, conducted September 6 to 11, was done when aspirants, including President Rodrigo Duterte who expressed interest to run for the Vice Presidency position, have yet to file their Certificates of Candidacy, and there are uncertainties on PRRD’s electoral bid,” Roque said.

Be that as it may, the President remains the candidate to beat in the 2022 elections, the Palace official added.

Pre-election survey conducted by Pulse Asia with 2,400 respondents revealed that Senate President Vicente Sotto III is the top choice for the 2022 vice presidential post.

About 25 percent of those polled chose Sotto while Duterte got 14 percent.

They were followed by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. with 12% each, and Senator Manny Pacquiao and Senator Bong Go with 7% each.

Earlier this month, Duterte accepted his nomination as the vice presidential candidate of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.