Bongbong still leads VP race in latest Pulse Asia survey

Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr has maintained his lead in the  vice-presidential race based on the latest results of the preelection survey conducted by pollster Pulse Asia.

In the survey results that were released Sunday morning, 29 percent of the respondents chose Marcos.

Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor G. Robredo was the second option with 23 percent backing her.

Senator Francis Escudero came in 3rd with 20%, followed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (16%), Senator Gregorio Honasan (4%), and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (3%).

Pulse Asia's latest survey, which was commissioned by ABS-CBN, was conducted from April 12 to 17 using face-to-face interviews among 4,000 registered  voters aged 18 and above with biometrics.

Error margin for the nationwide survey is at ± 1.5 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

March-April survey

There was no change in the ranking of the vice presidential bets based on the Pulse Asia survey conducted from March 29 to April 3, 2016. But most of the candidates have gained percentage points.

Prevailing news developments during the latest survey period includes:

1. Military-Abu Sayyaf clashes in Basilan that left 13 bandits and 18 soldiers dead (April 9); President Benigno S. Aquino III's apology to the families of the dead and the wounded soldiers and his promise of a thorough investigation;

2. The challenge by Davao City Mayor Duterte to Vice-President Jejomar C. Binary to a debate on morality and corruption;

3. The criticisms against the Liberal Party (LP) and its standard bearer, former Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, over a video clip showing the host of a party campaign rally telling members of the audience to cheer loudly in order to get “envelopes”;

4. The vice presidential debates on April 17 that was missed by Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr; Presidential Commission Good Government (PCGG) claimed Marcos Jr and former First Lady Imelda Marcos barred the return of the family’s alleged ill-gotten wealth to the Filipino people.

6. The assurance given by the Department of Energy (DOE) of continuous power supply on 09 May 2016 despite the high demand for power during the dry season.

7. The filing of libel charges by Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) President Lorenzo Tan against former RCBC Jupiter St. Branch Manager Maia Santos-Deguito following the Senate hearing over the $81-M money-laundering scam;

8. The decision of the Fourth and Fifth Divisions of the Sandiganbayan to grant bail to Ms. Janet Lim-Napoles in connection with plunder charges filed against her in relation to the alleged misuse of the Prior Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of several lawmakers;

9. The release on bail of 76 farmers arrested during a protest rally in Kidapawan City, Cotabato on 01 April 2016;

10. The filing of two (2) more graft charges against former Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) General Manager Al Vitangcol III by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with his reported attempt to extort US$ 30M from a Czech railway company in 2012; and

11. The disclosure made by US Defense Secretary Ash Carter that the US and the Philippines have begun conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) in March 2016.

Reaction

Escudero told reporters on Sunday that he and Sen. Grace Poe, his running mate, respect the results of all surveys whether or not they top them.

He however said no one should be complacent or be proud when topping the surveys. The verdict will still be out on election day, May 9, he said. —LBG/KG, GMA News