Junjun Binay tops survey in Makati mayoral race

MANILA, Philippines - Makati Councilor Junjun Binay has topped the recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) in the Makati mayoralty race.

The survey, which was conducted from April 7-9 among 600 Makati residents, gave Binay a 46 percent share of the votes. The young Binay enjoys a commanding 22 percent lead over his nearest rival, Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado who has 24 percent.

Lawyer Erwin Genuino ranks third with 18 percent and former senator Agapito “Butz” Aquino is fourth with one percent. The same survey also showed that Binay is enjoing 51 percent of the votes in Makati’s first district and 41 percent in the second district.

Binay leads in all socio-economic classes, garnering 51 percent of votes from the ABC class, 44 percent of the D class and 48 percent of the E class. “This shows that the residents of Makati believe in the brand of service espoused by Junjun Binay. They believe that he is more than qualified to be the city’s next mayor and can continue and expand the benefits they already receive,” Binay’s spokesman Lito Anzures said.

Anzures cited that Binay got a commanding 50 percent of the votes in the Pulse Asia survey conducted on Feb. 13 to 14, while Mercado has 20 percent and Genuino with 17 percent. But Anzures called for vigilance among Makati voters, saying that the dismal performance of Binay’s opponents in both the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys could prompt them to resort to “desperate tactics.”

He cited efforts by Binay’s rivals to misinform the public by spreading results of fake surveys through text, adding that reliable information reaching the Binay camp showed that one of their rivals intends to sow confusion and cause delays on election day.