Presidential candidate Vice President Jejomar Binay INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Despite trailing in recent preference surveys, Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday expressed confidence that he can woo voters in Mindanao, the bailiwick of fellow presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“Basta’t mananalo kami ni Governor Salic,” Binay told reporters in Marawi City when asked about the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey commissioned by ABS-CBN.
READ: Duterte keeps lead in Pulse Asia-ABS-CBN poll
Duterte secured his lead in the said poll with 30 percent of voter preference, followed by Sen. Grace Poe. Binay, the erstwhile frontrunner, was trailing at third place with 20 percent.
Binay’s spokesperson Rico Quicho said the United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer believes that reaching out directly to the people during campaigns can strengthen his core support.
READ: Binay asks public not to vote for ‘berdugo’ Duterte
“Lagi pong sinasabi ni VP Binay na ang tunay at totoong survey ay ‘yong mangyayari sa araw ng eleksyon. Kaya ho tayo patuloy lamang ang pag-iikot ni VP Binay sa iba’t-ibang lalawigan upang lalo po nating maipadama ‘yong magagawa pong plataporma at programa ni VP Binay sa ating mga kababayan,” Quicho said in an ambush interview. “Kaya nga po sa lahat ng pinupuntahan natin ay meron po tayong mensaheng ipinapahayag. Sa mga susunod na araw lalo pa ho nating paiigtingin ang pag-iikot natin.
“Hindi po natin ginagamit ‘yong salitang kumpiyansa sapagkat tayo po laging sipag ang ginagamit natin, laging pagpupursigi. At alam naman po natin talagang sa kagustuhan ni VP Binay na patuloy pong makatulong sa ating mga kababayan. Talagang lahat po ito ay gagawin natin para ‘yong mga programa po ay matuloy at mawala na po itong kahirapan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Binay and Duterte had been trading barbs in the past weeks, with the opposition leader calling the tough-talking mayor as “executioner of the poor” amid allegations of extrajudicial killings, and Duterte calling Binay as “butcher of the people’s money” amid corruption allegations.
READ: Duterte asks voters: Criminal killer or public funds thief?
Binay is set to campaign in Sarangani province and General Santos City with boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, one of the six exclusive members of his senatorial slate. JE