Binay, Poe, Roxas top bets to succeed Noy – SWS

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay is still the top choice as the country’s next president, the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The poll, conducted from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, showed Binay leading the list of possible presidential candidates for 2016 with 37 percent of votes of 1,800 respondents nationwide.

Sen. Grace Poe was second with 21 percent, followed by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas with 19 percent.

The non-commissioned survey had sampling error margins of plus or minus two percentage points for national percentages and plus or minus six percentage points each for Metro Manila, balance of Luzon and Mindanao; and three percentage points for the Visayas.

Results of the survey were published in BusinessWorld yesterday.

The other names in the list were Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago with 10 percent, followed by Sen. Francis Escudero and former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada with nine percent each.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV obtained five percent each, followed by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano each with three percent.

Former senator Manuel Villar Jr., Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson got two percent each.

Obtaining one percent each were Sen. Loren Legarda, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

SWS said eight percent of respondents did not recommend anyone and 15 percent did not give an answer.

According to the SWS, the respondents were not given a list of names to choose from, and were instead asked: “According to the Constitution, the term of Pres. Noynoy Aquino is up to 2016 only, and there will be an election for a new president in May 2016. Who do you think are the good leaders who should succeed Pres. Aquino as president? You may give up to three names.”

Honored, humbled

Vice President Jejomar Binay said he was “honored and humbled” by the results of the survey and vowed to continue to work harder to further gain the trust of the Filipinos.

“I am grateful for the kind recognition of my worthiness to assume the country’s highest public office. To my fellow Filipinos, thank you very much for this warm Christmas greeting,” Binay said in a statement.

“The SWS result is an important guide, and an inspiration to further improve my work in governance despite the efforts of some quarters to distract me from fulfilling my mandate and my promise to serve our people,” he said.

“Public service is after all a never-ending profession. We must persevere in fulfilling our mission to promote the welfare and provide comfort to the greatest number of Filipinos,” he added.

Binay also urged his colleagues in government “to renew our resolve in staying the course of good and effective governance.”

Inspiration

In a statement, Poe thanked the public for their continued trust in her in spite of the various challenges that the Senate has been facing for the past few years.

“This provides me with the inspiration knowing that they approve of what I am doing,” Poe said.

Various groups, including the administration’s Liberal Party, have mentioned Poe as a possible candidate either for president or vice president.

However, Poe has repeatedly brushed aside the issue, saying she would rather focus on her work as a senator.

“The problems that we are facing right now are more important. My personal political plans are not a priority for now,” she said. 

Citizens’ feedback

Malacañang brushed aside the survey results, saying the government remains focused on its job.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told reporters in a news briefing that opinion surveys are part of citizens’ feedback, but are not the primary interest and focus of government.

He said that the priority is reform and programs in line with the Philippine Development Plan, when asked to comment on Roxas’ standing in the survey.

The SWS survey “is very positive and encouraging” for Roxas,” Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Dasmariñas City in Cavite said.

He said the survey means that Roxas, though he ranked third in the respondents’ choices as Aquino’s successor, “is within striking distance of the presidency.”

“Once there has been an official declaration by his party that he is the official candidate, coupled with the endorsement of President Noy, there will be a substantial increase in his rating,” he said.

“Once the Mar Roxas-Sen. Grace Poe ticket has been finalized, I think this ticket will be unbeatable in 2016,” he added.  – With Marvin Sy, Delon Porcalla, Jess Diaz