CALBAYOG CITY, Philippines - PDP-Laban standard-bearer Rodrigo Duterte's rise in the latest presidential surveys is a reflection of voters' clamor for change, his ex-wife told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview.

“There’s so much corruption, so much drugs, crime. What people are seeing is that what he is doing in Davao, he will do it nationwide,” said Elizabeth Zimmerman, ex-wife of the leading presidential candidate, when asked about the latest pre-election surveys.

READ: Duterte overtakes Poe, claims lead in ABS-CBN survey

In ABS-CBN's survey by Pulse Asia from March 29 to April 3, the Davao City mayor overtook erstwhile frontrunner Grace Poe, with 30% of respondents picking Duterte. Poe dropped to second with 25%. The survey has a sample of 4,000 voter-respondents with a margin of error of plus/minus 1.5%.

A separate Businessworld-Social Weather Stations survey from March 30-April 2 of 1,500 voter-respondents also has Duterte leading the presidential race with 27%, compared to Poe’s 23%. In this survey, however, both are statistically tied given the bigger error margin of plus/minus 3%.

'DUTERTE CAN DO IT'

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Zimmerman meanwhile dismissed detractors who say Duterte’s vow to rid the country of crime in 3 to 6 months is impossible.

READ: Kill the criminals! Duterte's vote-winning vow in Philippines

“Of course, he can do it. I believe he can do it. I have seen him do it in Davao,” Zimmerman said.

Sara Duterte, the mayor's daughter with Zimmerman, said she is hopeful that the surge in Duterte’s numbers will continue all the way to Election Day, May 9.

“I am happy for him. I hope magtuloy tuloy na yun hanggang manalo siya,” she said.

Zimmerman and the younger Duterte are currently on a 30-day bus tour in the Visayas and Mindanao to drum up support for the Davao mayor.

On its eighth day, the caravan stopped briefly at Calbayog City before heading to Cebu.