Binay: favourite?
Vice President Jejomar Binay remains the top presidential candidate for 2016 despite the 10% drop in his ratings, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed.
Binay’s voter preference rating dropped to 31% this month from 41% in June.
The camp of the vice president said yesterday the survey results were a surprise because Binay’s popularity was hardly affected by the allegations madeagainst him and other members of his family. The survey was held while the Senate blue ribbon committee was investigating allegations that the Makati City Hall Building 2 was overpriced and that Binay benefited from it.
“Given the very challenging and rough times that the vice president faced in the past weeks, we expected a bigger decline, but the latest survey results are a surprise for us,” Rep. Tobias Tiangco, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim president and spokesman, said.
“The public is aware that the allegations against him are part of the plan of the administration allies to discredit him and his family,” he added.
The survey held from September 8 to 15 showed that Binay’s rating dropped in all classes. It fell by 13% in class ABC, from 36 to 23 and by 10% in Class D. Support for the vice president in Class E dropped only by 7%.
Tiangco said the survey results will only motivate the vice president “to improve the bar of public service, and no amount of smear and slander can shake him.”
He added that Binay will remain focused on his job and committed to assist distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), provide shelter to those who aspire to have their own homes and continue to improve his performance by serving the people.
Trailing Binay in the survey was Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas, said to be President Benigno Aquino’s preferred successor, who moved up to 13% from 7%. He was followed by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who got 11%.
The survey also listed other presidential aspirants -- Sen. Grace Poe (10%), former president and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (10%), Sen. Francis Escudero (5%), Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr (4%), former vice president Noli de Castro and Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman Richard Gordon (3%).
Former senator and now rehabilitation czar Secretary Panfilo Lacson, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr each received 1%.
Malacanang refused to comment on the results of the Pulse Asia survey.
