Next president: Binay tops poll

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay topped the list of “preferred” presidential candidates for 2016, according to a recent survey by Pulse Asia.

The survey, conducted from March 19 to 26, found Binay obtaining 40 percent of votes of 1,200 respondents nationwide.

Binay consistently rated high across all geographical areas, according to a report of online news agency Rappler.com.

He garnered 44 percent in balance Luzon, 38 percent in Metro Manila, 37 percent in Mindanao and 35 percent in the Visayas.

Across economic classes, Binay also got the approval of a majority of respondents – 47 percent of classes A, B and C, 42 percent of class D and 34 percent of class E.

Pulse Asia confirmed it conducted the presidential survey but declined to officially release the results.

“We have no official release,” Pulse Asia research director Ana Maria Tabunda told The STAR in a text message.

The survey also showed neophyte Senator Grace Poe in second place with 15 percent.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was third with 10 percent, followed by Sen. Chiz Escudero (nine percent), Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II (six percent), and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (five percent).

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and presidential sister/television host Kris Aquino received four percent each, followed by Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. and former senator Panfilo Lacson with three percent and two percent, respectively.

Binay and Cayetano have already declared their intention to run in the 2016 presidential polls.

An official of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) earlier said Binay is set to launch a new political party on June 12 for his 2016 presidential bid.

Binay also received majority approval and trust ratings in the first quarter Pulse Asia survey, with a performance rating of 87 percent and a trust rating of 86 percent.

Poe leads VP race

Meanwhile, Poe emerged as the top choice for vice president, obtaining an approval rating of 24 percent, followed by Escudero with 20 percent.

Roxas was in third place with eight percent, followed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV with seven percent and Cayetano with six percent.

Marcos, Aquino, Lacson and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto were tied at fourth place with five percent each.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada obtained four percent.

Revilla and Estrada were both implicated in the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam.

Senators Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Revilla got three percent each, followed by Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito with two percent, and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo with one percent.

Senatorial polls

Sen. Vicente Sotto was leading the 2016 senatorial race with 57.6 percent, followed by Sen. Franklin Drilon with 56.3 percent, Roxas (52.9 percent), Sen. Ralph Recto (58.3 percent) former senator Francis Pangilinan (48.0 percent).

Lacson obtained 47.4 percent, followed by former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri with 44.7 percent and Richard Gordon with 41.9 percent.

Marcos received 41.6 percent, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III with 40.8 percent, former senator Jamby Madrigal (37.4 percent), Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao (34.8 percent), former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros (34.0 percent), Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (33.5 percent), and Kris Aquino (31.8 percent).

Taguig Rep. Lino Cayetano received 31.7 percent, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (31.5 percent), former Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile (31.1 percent), Sen. TG Guingona (29.3 percent) and former Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay (21.6 percent).