Binay 'best leader' to succeed Aquino

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay is the "best leader" to succeed President Benigno Aquino III, according to a latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Monday.

The SWS said that of the 1,800 respondents asked in face-to-face interviews, 37 percent mentioned Binay when asked to name three leaders they think will be worthy to succeed President Aquino, whose term will end in 2016.

Binay was followed by Sen. Grace Poe Llamanzares with 21 percent and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas with 19 percent..

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago was the choice of 10 percent of the respondents while Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero and Manila Mayor Joseph "Erap" Estrada were each favored by nine percent.

Tied with five percent of overall votes are Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Completing the top 10 are Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, both chosen by three percent of the respondents.

Other names mentioned are those of billionaire and former senator Manuel Villar, detained Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Rehabilitation and Recovery Sec. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Sen. Loren Legarda, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Sec. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and champion boxer and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

The SWS survey was first published on BusinessWorld and conducted from November 27 to December 1 on sample of 1,800 adults, 300 each in Metro Manila, the balance of Luzon and Mindanao and 900 in the Visayas.