Binay camp on trailing Poe in polls: VP will work harder

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER file photo

The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay admitted that he needs to work harder after the latest Pulse Asia survey showed that he still ranked second to Senator Grace Poe as the voters’ preferred president in 2016.

“The Vice President remains grateful and humbled by the people’s continued trust and support. Rest assured that he will continue to work hard,” Rico Quicho, spokesperson for political concerns, said in a statement on Friday.

“The people deserve genuine change in how their government works and in their lives and the Vice President is committed to this goal,” Quicho added.

In a latest electoral survey of the Pulse Asia, Poe remained as the most preferred presidential candidate with 27 percent while Binay had 21 percent.

READ: Grace Poe tops Pulse Asia survey anew

Former Interior secretary and Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II landed on the third spot with 18 percent.

Poe, however, suffered a three-percentage-point decline in ratings from the last Pulse Asia Survey conducted in June.

Despite the one percent decline in Binay’s ratings, the survey also showed that among the presidential hopefuls, the vice president topped voters’ preference in Mindanao and placed second in the National Capital Region, Balance Luzon and Visayas.

Binay’s camp cited the statement of Ana Maria Tabunda, Pulse Asia Research Director, that “the survey supports Binay’s claims that his core base remains intact.”

READ: Binay’s path to victory

“So far may basis po ‘yung sinasabi niya (Binay) na naho-hold up po iyong kanyang voter preference. Malliit na lang po iyong ibinaba. Parang pareho lang po no’ng voter preference niyang nakuha no’ng June,” Tabunda was quoted as saying.

(So far, Binay’s claim that his voter preference is holding up has basis. He suffered little decline. It’s like the same voter preference he obtained in June.)

The survey, which was commissioned by giant television network ABS-CBN, has a plus-minus 3 percent margin of error. Nestor Corrales/IDL