Binay tops poll on presidential bets; Grace 2nd

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay again emerged as the top contender for the 2016 presidential elections, beating other perceived aspirants by a wide margin, according to the latest survey by Pulse Asia.

Binay obtained a plurality or 41 percent of the votes of 1,200 respondents in Pulse Asia’s survey on the Filipinos’ presidential preferences for 2016. The survey was conducted from June 24 to July 2.

This was slightly higher than the 40 percent rating he received in Pulse Asia’s March 19-26 poll.

Sen. Grace Poe came in a far second with 12 percent, followed by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada with nine percent.

Ranked fourth to sixth places were Sen. Chiz Escudero, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago with seven percent each.

They were followed by Senators Bongbong Marcos and Alan Peter Cayetano with five percent each.

Sen. Bong Revilla, currently detained on plunder charges, obtained two percent, followed by Senate President Franklin Drilon and former senator Richard
Gordon with one percent each.

Binay and Cayetano have made known their intentions to run for president in 2016.

Meanwhile, the survey showed that Poe was the top choice for vice president for 2016, receiving 26 percent of the respondents’ votes.

Twenty-two percent said they would vote for Escudero, while 14 percent chose Cayetano.

Eight percent of respondents preferred Marcos, while six percent went for Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, also detained on plunder charges, and Drilon got five percent.

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto and Revilla received four percent, while Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo obtained one percent.

Pulse Asia has yet to officially release the survey, but Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes confirmed the data obtained by The STAR.

Holmes said due to power outages his office could not upload the poll results on their website.