Binay lead in presidential survey drops

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO/Cathy Miranda

MANILA, Philippines – Fewer people expressed preference for Vice President Jejomar Binay for the 2016 presidential elections, the latest Pulse Asia poll revealed.

The survey showed that preference for Binay dropped 10 points, from 41 percent in June to only 31 percent in early September. He, however, continued to lead the pack of presidential aspirants for 2016.

While the dip was consistent among all locations and classes, those in the upper classes of A, B, and C showed the greatest drop at 13 percentage points, from 36 percent in June to only 23 percent in September.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who was said to be President Benigno Aquino III’s preferred successor, inched higher with 13 percent, landing him in second place. It was an improvement compared to the earlier survey where he got only seven percent.

Santiago in 3rd place

Trailing behind Binay and Roxas were Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (11 percent), Senator Grace Poe (10 percent), former president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (10 percent), Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero (5 percent), Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (4 percent), former vice president Noli De Castro (3 percent) and Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman Richard “Dick” Gordon.

Each receiving one percent of the survey votes were rehabilitation czar Secretary Panfilo Lacson, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, and Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who is currently detained for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

Poe top VP bet 

Heading the vice presidential bets was Poe, who received a five-point increase in preference with 31 percent for September.

Escudero (19 percent) was the second most preferred personality to run for vice president. He was followed by Cayetano (9 percent), Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (7 percent), Marcos (6 percent), Batangas governor Vilma Santos (5 percent), Senate President Franklin Drilon (5 percent) and Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada (3 percent), who is also detained and facing corruption charges.

Businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, who was reportedly the preferred running mate of Binay, got only two percent.

Conducted September 8 to 15 among 1,200 respondents, the survey coincided with the Senate investigation on the allegedly overpriced Makati City building, the construction of which started during Binay’s term as mayor. Three days after the survey was conducted, Binay gave a speech defending himself and his family.

The poll has an error margin of ± 3% and a confidence level of 95 percent.

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Originally posted: 10:47 am | Monday, September 29th, 2014