“THE race is on,” so said Senate President Franklin Drilon after former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ continued surge in latest presidential surveys.
““It’s a dead heat race. Statistically tied, it’s plus minus three. It’s a dead heat at this point, so the race is on. The race is on,” Drilon, vice chairman of the Liberal Party, told reporters on Monday when sought for comment on the latest Pulse Asia survey, which showed Senator Grace Poe’s slim 6-percent lead over Roxas.
He was referring to the ± 2% margin of error of the survey conducted from September 8 to 14 among 2,400 respondents.
“Talagang ito na ang umpisa, at nakikita natin na patuloy ang pagtaas ng ratings ni Secretary Mar. They are statistically tied,” the Senate leader said.
Based on the survey, Poe remained the voters’ choice for president with 26 percent, followed closely by Roxas with 20 percent, Vice President Jejomar Binay with 19 percent, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with 16 percent.
READ: Poe lead Pulse Asia poll; Roxas, Binay, Duterte tied in 2nd place
All three —Poe, Roxas and Binay – have all declared their presidential run except for Duterte.
Asked if he thinks Roxas could surpass Poe in the surveys, Drilon said: “Syempre we will not present a candidate who will not win, ano? We’re confident that we can make a distinction between Secretary Mar and his opponents.”