FALL FROM GRACE  Sen. Grace Poe holds a copy of the final report of the Senate committee on public order which conducted an investigation on the January 25 police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao where 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force were killed. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN
Grace Poe

I’m used to being an underdog – Binay

Sen. Grace Poe has dislodged Vice President Jejomar Binay from his perch as the frontrunner in the race to Malacañang in 2016.

According to results of the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia, Poe has surpassed Binay in the top spot, getting the nod of 30 percent of the 1,200 respondents polled from May 30 to June 5.

The Vice President slid down to No. 2 with 22 percent.

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Binay said he regards the survey results as a “wake-up call.”

“That is a wake-up call and it gives me an opportunity to thank those who continue to support me,” he told reporters.

The survey was conducted at the time Binay hogged the headlines after the Office of the Ombudsman announced that a special investigating panel was formed to look into the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building 2, the Court of Appeals issued a freeze order on the bank accounts of the Vice President, his family members and associates and the Senate blue ribbon continued with investigation of allegations of corruption against the Binay patriarch.

Also dominating the news at the time were reports of Poe’s alleged lack of residency that makes her ineligible to seek a higher position in 2016.

Duterte, Roxas, Erap

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte trails Binay by seven percentage points, getting 15 percent with both Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas 2nd and deposed president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada getting 10 percent each.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago got 6 percent while Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and former senator Panfilo Lacson getting 2 percent each.

Binay’s latest ratings was below the 29 percent he garnered in March.

Poe, who is reportedly being wooed to pair with Roxas in the 2016 polls, enjoyed an increase in ratings. She had 14 percent in the March survey.

Roxas, the presumptive standard-bearer of the administration-backed Liberal Party, also enjoyed an increase in ratings. He only notched 4 percent in March.

Humbled, undecided

In a statement, Poe said she was humbled by the latest poll results.

“Once again, I humbly thank our countrymen for trusting me. I am one with them in desiring for a country where every Filipino would enjoy an equal opportunity to develop. I value the voice of the people,” her statement in Filipino read.

Poe, however, said she is still undecided about her political plans in 2016.

Been there

Binay, who has never lost an election since getting elected as mayor of the then municipality of Makati in 1988, said he is used to being an “underdog.”

“Hindi po ako bago sa ganitong sitwasyon. Ilang beses na akong naging underdog sa aking mga laban [I’m not new to this kind of situation. I’ve been an underdog many times in my past fights],” he added.

Navotas City (Metro Manila) Rep. Tobias Tiangco, the interim president of Binay’s party the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), said the Vice President (VP) will continue to work harder.

“Ipagpapatuloy lang ni VP ang pangangalaga sa OFW at Housing Sector. Lalo siyang magsisipag para maibangon sa kahirapan ang ating mahihirap na kababayan [Binay will continue t take care of overses Filipino workers and the Housing Sector. He will work harder to improve the lot of the poor],” Tiangco’s text message read.

Malacanang remains unperturbed by the survey results.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said public opinion survey results only present a “snapshot view of citizen preferences on potential candidates.”

“The President [Benigno Aquino 3rd] continues to consult relevant stakeholders and, as he stated most recently, he is looking at the period after his last SONA [State of the Nation Address] as the appropriate time for making an announcement on his preferred candidate for the 2016 presidential elections,” Coloma added in a statement.

“Meantime, the President and the Cabinet will continue to focus efforts on implementing priority development and reform programs that will ensure the attainment of sustainable and inclusive growth,” he said.