Poll shows big gap in Makati race

If the elections for Makati City mayor were held today, the incumbent, Abby Binay, would easily beat her younger brother, former Mayor Junjun, according to a Pulse Asia survey.

Abby captured a decisive 71 percent of the vote, compared to 22 percent for Junjun, whose high-profile challenge has divided the Binay family and shaken up local politics in the country’s financial capital.

Only 2 percent of the respondents said they would cast their ballot for businessman Ricky Yabut, son of Nemesio Sr. who governed Makati for 14 years during the Marcos regime.

Four percent said they were undecided or refused to choose a candidate.

1,200 respondents

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from Nov. 23 to 29 last year among 1,200 Makati residents.

The poll also looked at the races for vice mayor, with incumbent Monique Lagdameo, who is running under Abby’s ticket, getting 81 percent of respondents’ votes compared to Junjun ally Monsour del Rosario, who was chosen by only 10 percent.

Six percent were undecided or chose neither of the aspirants.

Former Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is mounting his political comeback three years after placing  fourth in the 2016 presidential elections, was the pick of 66 percent of respondents for congressman of Makati’s first district.

Other candidate

Kid Peña, who briefly served as mayor after Junjun was ordered removed from office by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2015, received 30 percent of the votes for the House position.

Although voter preferences could still shift significantly with five months to go before the elections, the survey results could challenge Junjun’s assertion that he entered the race due to an overwhelming clamor from Makati residents dissatisfied with his sister’s leadership.

On the other hand, they could provide Mayor Binay with leverage in dealing with city councilors, a majority of whom had withdrawn their support for the reelectionist and backed Junjun instead.

Impact

Councilor Maria Concepcion Yabut, who continued to ally herself with Abby, was ousted as majority floor leader in November and replaced by a Junjun supporter, Nemesio “King” Yabut Jr.

Junjun at press time had not responded to a request for an interview regarding the survey results.