Binay 'humbled' by people's trust after survey lead

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay feels humbled by the people's trust in him following the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) presidential survey released on Friday.

Binay maintained the top position in the pre-election survey with 31 percent.

"It will encourage him to work harder in order to demonstrate his actions to uplift our people’s lives, fight poverty and provide employment," Binay's spokesperson Rico Quicho said in a statement.

Quicho noted that the latest result of the SWS survey would encourage Binay to work harder despite corruption allegations against him.

"He will continue to emphasize that our country needs an experienced and competent leader to work for inclusive growth that would ultimately benefit the poor who comprise majority of our country," Binay said.

Binay's rating jumped five points from his 26-percent rating in December 2015, where he and Sen. Grace Poe were tied.

Poe slid to the second place while Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II remained at the third spot with 21 percent.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte scored 20 percent, followed by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago with 3 percent.

Meanwhile, the Makati Regional Trial Court dismissed petitions to junk the P200-million damage suit filed by Binay against Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes and several others.

The court ruled that the vice president’s complaint states a cause of action against the defendants.

RELATED: Makati RTC rejects motions to dismiss Binay's P200-M damage suit