THE ruling Liberal Party on Monday expressed confidence the tandem of former Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo will win this year’s elections.
“The latest Laylo survey proves what we’ve always said: It’s a tight race,” Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez said in a statement.
“We’re pleased with the steady rise of our candidates. The important thing is to be number 1 on May 9, and we’re confident that Mar and Leni will be number 1 then.”
The latest The Standard Poll conducted by resident pollster Junie Laylo placed Roxas in close second with 22 percent behind presidential front runner Senator Grace Poe with 26 percent, Duterte with 24 percent, and Vice President Jejomar Binay with 23 percent.
Poe, Duterte and Binay were all statistically tied for first.
Another presidential candidate, Senator Miriam Santiago, received only 2 percent.
On Monday, Roxas questioned the claims by his rival Vice President Jejomar Binay as he visited Makati City, Binay’s stronghold.
Roxas said Makati would have gone much farther if Binay, who ruled the city for more than two decades, did not steal from the local government.
“Maybe this is not the time for politics,” Roxas said during the International Women’s Day celebrations at the Makati Coliseum.
“But what happened in 30 years? One thing’s for sure: In their thirty years of leadership, Makati would have gone very far if only they were clean and they didn’t steal any public money.”
Roxas, who is being backed in Makati by Acting Mayor Kid Peña, said the city had gone far because Makati is already Yellow!
But former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado said Roxas would have a hard time winning in Makati.
“For president, it will still be Binay because this is his territory but he won’t take a commanding lead here,” Mercado told reporters.
Mercado’s daughter Karla is running for vice mayor alongside Peña who is facing Makati Rep. Abigail Binay in the mayoral race. John Paolo Bencito