Binay biggest gainer if Poe is disqualified, says Roxas

Sen. Grace Poe, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANDAUE CITY, Cebu–Should Senator Grace Poe be disqualified from the presidential race, Vice President Jejomar Binay will largely benefit from it, said Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Roxas predicted that Binay would get the “biggest chunk” of votes if the Supreme Court would decide to disqualify her as a presidential candidate from the national elections for her questionable citizenship and residency.

“I might get a chunk or portion of the votes for Poe, but the biggest chunk will go to him,” Roxas told select reporters.

READ: Poe: It will be very convenient for Binay if I’ll be disqualified

Without directly saying Binay is among those working for Poe’s disqualification, Roxas said, “It’s in his interest.”

But Roxas said his basis for saying Binay would get Poe’s votes was “a (result) of our study and examination of the survey ratings.”

READ: Poe, Binay share lead; Escudero, Marcos ‘statistically tied’—Pulse Asia

The former Interior secretary is here in Cebu to campaign in the province that delivered the most number of votes for Roxas when he ran as vice president in the 2010 national elections.

Poe accused Roxas and Binay of having a hand in her disqualification. Both presidential candidates denied the allegation.

READ: Poe says Roxas, Binay behind disqualification move

Roxas, who had previously wooed Poe to be his running mate, pointed out that it was Binay’s camp who first came out in the media to claim that Poe fell short of the 10-year residency requirement to vie for the presidency. IDL