VP Binay questions SWS poll, calls Grace Poe ‘American Girl’

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday questioned the results of the recent SWS presidential preference survey in which he ranked third while Senator Grace Poe, whom he referred to as “American girl,” placed first, GMA's “24 Oras” has reported.

“'Yung una, 'yung RMN radyo. O yun talagang dikit sa masa yun. Apat na libo ang tinanong. Naku ang laki ho ng lamang natin. Number One tayo,” Binay said referring to the radio network's recent poll.

“Kaya lang pag dating ng SWS sabi eh pangatlo tayo at napakalayo ng lamang ni American girl,” he added.

Binay made the statement after over 200 politicians took their oaths as members of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance at the Coconut Palace.

The Vice President also dismissed Pulse Asia's latest survey results indicating a statistical tie for second place involving him, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The poll also showed Poe at first place.

“Pero kayo mismo, lalo na kayo sa lalawigan kahit na sa mga taxi driver at talaga sa taong masa buo ho talaga 'yung ating core kahit anong klaseng survey,” Binay said.

Grace Poe reacts

Poe shrugged off Binay's apparent jab at her citizenship saying that this is not the sole measure of being a Filipino.

“Hindi lamang sa papel, o sa bansa ang pagiging Pilipino. Ito ay pamumuhay ng marangal, 'yung ating values at isa pa 'yung tapat na paninilbihan,” she said.

Poe is facing a disqualification case before the Senate Electoral Tribunal due to questions on her citizenship.

She held a US citizenship during the time when she and her husband raised their family in the US.

Poe said she was a dual citizen but renounced her US citizenship in 2004 when she returned to the country after the death of her father, Fernando Poe Jr.

GMA News is still trying to get Roxas' reaction to Binay's remarks as of posting time.

SWS says no comment

Meanwhile, SWS Director for Survey Data Library Leo Laroza said their surveys are gathered by an independent body and may vary from the results of other group's surveys.

“We don't comment on other group's findings and everyone is free to interpret data for their own use,” he said in a statement.


In two sets of survey results that the SWS released recently results, Poe was at the top spot, with 47 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

In the first set of results, Roxas climbed to second place with 39 percent, while Binay slipped to third with 35 percent.

The second set of results showed the three candidates "statistically tied," with Binay getting 24 percent and another 20 percent choosing Roxas.

Poe also topped the latest Pulse Asia presidential preference survey.
 
The poll results released Monday, conducted from September 8 to 14, showed Poe is preferred by 26 percent of the respondents.
 
Pulse Asia said Roxas, Binay, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte are all "sharing second place."
 
Roxas had 20 percent, Binay had 19 percent while 16 percent went with Duterte. —NB, GMA News