By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, June 18 (PNA) – Senator Grace Poe on Thursday humbly thanked the people for making her as new leader among the potential presidential candidates in the 2016 elections.
Based on the Pulse Asia survey, Poe has overtaken Vice President Jejomar Binay who skidded to the second spot for the first time since he announced his intention to run for president in 2010.
”Again, I humbly thank our countrymen for the trust they have given to me. I’m one of them dreaming for a country where every Filipino can live with equal opportunity to prosper,” Poe said.
Despite her sudden surge in the surveys, Poe remains mum on her political plans in 2016.
”The voice of our countrymen is important to me,” Poe, daughter of the late movie actor Fernando Poe Jr., said.
According to the Pulse Asia survey conducted from May 30 to June 5, Poe garnered 30 percent of the votes of 1,200 respondents while Binay managed to get only 22 percent.
The 30 percentage was a huge jump considering Poe registered only 14 percent in the March 2015 presidential preference survey of Pulse Asia.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is also running strong in third with 15 percent, overtaking Interior Secretary Mar Roxas who is tied with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada with 10 percent apiece.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago is in sixth place with 6 percent followed by Alan Peter Cayetano and Panfilo Lacson with two percent each.
Poe is also the top favorite in the vice presidential survey, garnering 41 percent followed by Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and Cayetano with 15 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
Duterte and Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos were tied in fourth place with nine percent each.
Meanwhile, Binay also thanked the people despite his big drop in the previous surveys.
”My determination to fight to give good life to our people will remain,” Binay said.
Binay said he ran and won the vice presidential race in 2016 as ‘underdog’. (PNA)