SCREENGRAB OF THE INQUIRER.net POLL
A five-corner fight for a seat in Malacañang does not bother most INQUIRER.net readers as they have already decided whom to vote for in the 2016 presidential elections.
In a week-long online poll, which started on Nov. 24 or three days after Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte officially declared his presidential bid, 32.45 percent (3,026 respondents) of the total votes cast answered “I don’t care; I already made up my mind” when asked if five presidential tandems looming in next year’s polls would be good or bad for the country. The poll garnered a total of 9,324 votes after closing on Tuesday afternoon.
READ: Talking about the next president …
A close 32.24 percent of respondents (3,006 votes) said the five tandems will be good for the Philippines as voters will have more options to choose from.
Meanwhile, 17.31 percent or equivalent to 1,614 votes said otherwise, as too many choices “will confuse the voters more.”
Less than 10 percent of respondents answered “Yes, the more the merrier” (887 votes) and “No, too many for comfort” (791 votes).
The week-long poll was marked by a very little shift in trend. After it was launched on Nov. 24, the poll ended the first day with about 37 percent (369 votes) of over 1,000 respondents saying that five tandems will be good for the country, while “I don’t care” trailed with 24.83 percent or 253 votes.
In the following days until the poll’s closing, “I don’t care” votes slightly exceeded the affirmative. The top two options were neck-and-neck in voter margin as both remained within the 32-percent mark–32.78% and 32.47% on Nov. 26; 32.92% and 32.17% on Nov. 27; and 32.52% and 32.2% on Dec. 1.
The expected five-way fight for the two highest national posts features the tandems of administration bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo; opposition leader Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Gringo Honasan; Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.; Duterte and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano; and Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.
Poe, however, has been disqualified by the Commission on Elections’ 2nd division amid questions on her citizenship and residency.
READ: Comelec 2nd division disqualifies Grace Poe from presidential race
The Inquirer.net poll is not a scientific survey. It is an interactivity tool that can, within its limits, reflect the interests of online readers. IDL