Poe unfazed by Duterte rise in Standard Laylo poll

Presidential candidates Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares chat during a break in the Presidential Debates 2016 held in Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

The camp of presidential aspirant Grace Poe remained confident on Wednesday that she could sustain her “momentum” until the May 9 elections.

This, despite the latest Standard survey conducted by the Laylo Research Strategies, which showed her sharing the top spot with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential race.

READ: Duterte leads in new Standard poll

“The survey results clearly indicate the growing consolidation of support behind the candidacy of Sen. Poe. Coming into the last leg of the campaign period, Sen. Poe continues to stay in the forefront of the polls,” Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said in a statement.

“As more and more individuals and organized groups endorse her candidacy, her platform of governance continues to gain steam. We are confident that momentum will be sustained as the elections draw nearer,” Gatchalian added.

The survey conducted among 3,000 respondents from March 26 to April 1 showed Duterte taking the lead with 30 percent while Poe received 27 percent. The two were considered statistically tied for the top spot.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8 percent.

Trailing Poe was administration bet, former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II with 21 percent, followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with 18 percent and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago with only two percent.

Asked if Poe was not alarmed by Duterte’s rise in the surveys, Gatchalian gave no categorical answer except saying that they would focus on their own campaign.

“We will focus on our own campaign. We will use the information drawn from this survey to further fine-tune our next steps,” he said in a text message.

“We know very well that our advocacy resonates with our people. Our clear resolve is to amplify our platform of government – Gobyernong may Puso (government with a heart). We know very well that the more people hearing our message the more consolidation will take place behind Sen. Poe,” said the spokesman.IDL

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