MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay maintained his lead among the presidential aspirants for the 2016 national elections, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.
Voter reference for Binay increased from 26 percent in November last year to 29 percent in March.
The poll, conducted from March 1 to 7, also showed that while Senator Grace Poe retained the number two spot, her voter preference rating dropped from 18 percent to 14 percent.
Manila Mayor and former president Joseph Estrada inched higher with 12 percent (up from 10 percent last quarter) while Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who was previously not included in the survey questionnaire, tied with him at fourth place.
They are followed by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago (9 percent) and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (6 percent).
The second half of the list of presidential aspirants include Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II (4 percent), Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero (4 percent), Alan Peter Cayetano (3 percent), Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV (2 percent), former senator and rehab czar Panfilo “Ping” Lacson (1 percent), and Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard “Dick” Gordon (1 percent).
Poe still top VP bet
Poe also retained the top spot among potential vice presidential candidates. However, voter preference for the popular senator dropped from 33 percent last quarter to 29 in March.
The rest of the top 10 vice presidential aspirants are as follows: Escudero (16 percent), Cayetano (13 percent), Duterte (11 percent), Marcos (11 percent), Trillanes (6 percent), Estrada (4 percent), Senate President Franklin Drilon (3 percent), detained Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (2 percent), and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo (0.4 percent).
Incumbent senators
Still leading the senatorial aspirants is Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
Rounding up the top 15 are Lacson, Marcos, Secretary Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Drilon, Senator Ralph Recto, former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, Gordon, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, former Senator Jamby Madrigal, Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Taguig Rep. Lino Cayetano, and boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.
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