Rivals downplay VP Binay's lead in latest Pulse Asia survey

While Vice President Jejomar Binay was thankful for the results of the recent Pulse Asia survey showing him at the top of presidential preference polls, his rivals played down the results, noting that the elections were a long way away.

Unfazed by his fourth place ranking in the poll, administration candidate Mar Roxas on Tuesday said the most important poll is the one on May 9, 2016, the day of the presidential elections.

“Tulad ng parati kong sinasabi, ang pinakaimportante ay ang survey sa Mayo, sa botohan mismo,” Roxas, the so-called anointed one of President Benigno Aquino III, said in a statement.

“Nakita natin na magulo pa ito: noong isang buwan, si Grace ang una. Noong isang linggo, si Duterte. Ngayon naman, si Binay. Baka sa susunod, tayo na,” Roxas said.

Binay of opposition party United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) regained his lead in a pre-election Pulse Asia survey conducted early this month.

Binay got 33 percent of the 1,800 respondents, while Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte placed second with  23 percent. Senator Grace Poe, who was the frontrunner in the previous survey, fell to third with 21 percent.

Roxas was fourth with 17 percent, followed by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago with four percent.

Roxas said his track record and platform are more important than election surveys.

“Ang mahalaga para sa atin, malinis ang ating record, malinaw ang ating plataporma at kung saan natin gustong dalhin ang bansa, at matibay ang ebidensya ng benepisyo ng Daang Matuwid,” he said.

“Tuloy lang ang trabaho natin,” Roxas concluded.

Still a candidate

For its part, Poe’s camp said the survey results show the need to inform voters that the senator is still a presidential contender despite her disqualification by the first and second divisions of the Commission on Elections.

“Clearly, we have to amplify our message that Senator Poe is still a candidate in the running for the presidency," said Poe's spokesman Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian.

Poe had led the last Pulse Asia survey, before disqualification issues began hounding her campaign.

"In addition to this, we have to focus on our message of inclusive growth, improving competitiveness, and good governance, Platforms of governance that will resonate among the Filipino public,” he added.

Binay thankful

In a statement, Binay thanked those who continued to believe in him despite the vilification that has come his way.

Facing plunder charges, which he has repeatedly dismissed as part of a demolition job against him, Binay said he expects his opponents to again resort to character assassination.

"Sa gitna ng maruming pamumulitika, marami pa rin ang patuloy na nagtitiwala.  Taos puso ang aking pasasalamat sa ating mga kababayan sa inyong walang sawang pagsuporta," Binay said.

"Matagal pa ito at inaasahan ko na gagawin nila ang lahat para siraan uli ang aking pangalan at pagkatao," he added.

Binay, who has been going around the country just like the other candidates, said he is looking forward to meeting the electorate especially those who have been hit by recent storms.

"Sa halip sana na paninira, asam ko ay magsama-sama na lamang tayo at bigyang pansin ang pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga nasalanta ng bagyo sa Gitnang Luzon, Samar, at Mindanao," Binay said.

Duterte endorsement helped Binay

A Davao City congressman said Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of Binay’s candidacy, and the shift in public interest to controversies surrounding other presidential candidates enabled the Vice President to regain the top spot.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles added that the mayor's endorsement of Binay had a positive effect on his survey ranking.

“Si Mayor Rody kasi kinampanya si Binay.… Mukhang nakatulong din kay VP Binay yung sinabi ni Mayor Duterte na kapag siya po ay ma-disqualify ay magbi-Binay po siya,” Nograles said.

Being forgotten a good thing

Liberal Party coalition spokesperson and Akbayan party-list Rep. Barry Gutierrez attributed Binay’s lead to the public’s preoccupation with issues surrounding Roxas, Duterte and Poe.

“VP Binay was simply forgotten in the national conversation as it shifted to Poe, Duterte and Mar. And in his case, that was a good thing because the numerous unanswered corruption charges against him faded into the background, allowing him to recover some ground,” he said in a text message.

Although Binay holds the top spot in the Pulse Asia’s latest survey, Gutierrez believes the Vice President’s lead would not last long.

“I don’t think he’s (Binay) in a secure position. Once people are reminded of his extensive links to corruption, and he continues to avoid the issues, his support will once again drop,” he said. —KG/NB/JST, GMA News