INDEPENDENT presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe said the recent survey commissioned by The Standard showing her as the voters’ top choice for 2016 proved that Filipinos continue to support her and are not swayed by the legal and political maneuverings of her opponents.
“It gives me strength to know that our countrymen continue to stand with me in our pursuit of a better, livable and equitable society that benefits all Filipinos and not just a favored few,” Poe said.
“It humbles and inspires me to see that despite the difficulties, people still have faith that we will achieve our shared vision for this country,” she added.
Poe assured her supporters that she remains committed to serving them, and that here name would remain on the list of presidential candidates while she challenges two disqualification decisions against her.
The frontrunner in next year’s presidential race said she is still a presidential candidate until the Supreme Court resolves with finality all her disqualification cases involving questions about her citizenship and residency.
The latest nationwide survey commissioned by The Standard showed Poe as the top choice for president, with 28 percent of respondents saying they would vote for her. In her usual strongholds—Metro Manila, Bicol and the rest of Luzon—Poe won an even bigger chunk of the voting population, with 35 percent.
The survey, conducted from Dec. 4 to 12, had 1,500 respondents made up of registered voters from Metro Manila, Northern and Central Luzon, Bicol and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It had a margin of error of 2.6 percent.
Respondents belonging to the lowest economic classes also favored Poe, with 28 percent of those in class D and 31 percent of those in class E saying they would vote for her.
Poe was also the top choice of Muslim voters, with 33 percent opting for her from the list of six candidates presented to them. Duterte, who hails from Mindanao, followed with 30 percent.
“These are the people who have been left behind for so long, and who wish to benefit from the economic growth being touted by our government. They are the reason I am committed to fight for my right—and the right of all foundlings—to serve,” Poe said.
The survey also confirmed Poe’s popularity among the youth, with 36 percent of voters aged 18 to 34 choosing her as president.
Poe, who is pushing for the expansion of economic opportunities outside mega-cities, received the same strong support from voters in urban and rural areas across the country, with 29 percent and 28 percent, respectively.
Nationwide, Poe was followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay (23 percent) and Manuel Roxas II (22 percent) who were statistically tied. Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ranked fourth with 19 percent, while Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago trailed everyone with 3 percent.
Poe’s spokesperson Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said Poe is thankful to the Filipino electorate who continue to support her advocacies.
He said the results of this survey will continue to serve as a guide and inspiration for Senator Poe.
“She will continue to amplify her message of good governance, inclusive growth and improving competitiveness of our country. Certainly, these platforms of governance resonate with the Filipino people,” he added.
Poe has been a consistent frontrunner in most voter preference surveys even before she declared her presidential bid in September. Following her proclamation, however, Poe began to face a string of cases seeking to cancel her Certificate of Candidacy for president by questioning her citizenship and residency. With Sandy Araneta
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said surveys such as The Standard’s poll would broaden voters’ understanding of the candidates’ platforms.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the different political camps would study the results closely.
“It is interesting and will be studied by all camps to see the trajectory of candidates and it may separate the marathon runners from the sprinters,” Lacierda said in a text message to The Standard. – With Sandy Araneta
