Top VP: Leni overtakes Bongbong

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) bet Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo has gained more ground in the vice presidential race with the campaign now in the homestretch and the elections just around the corner, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Support for Robredo improved to 30 percent in the ABS-CBN commissioned poll, up from 26 percent in the Pulse Asia’s April 19 to 24 survey that was also sponsored by the television network.

The new Pulse Asia survey was conducted from April 26 to 29, using face-to-face interviews of 4,000 registered voters with biometrics. It has a margin of error of 1.5 percentage points.

Robredo, however, is statistically tied with Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who obtained 28 percent, down from 31 percent.

Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes noted that the movement in the ratings of Robredo and Marcos was significant.

The ratings of Sens. Francis Escudero and Alan Peter Cayetano were unchanged at 18 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

Sens. Antonio Trillanes IV’s and Gringo Honasan II’s scores also did not move at three percent and two percent, respectively. 

Marcos dominated the survey in the National Capital Region and Luzon with 42 percent and 33 percent voter preference, respectively.

Robredo led in the Visayas with 42 percent and shared statistical leads in Mindanao (28 percent) with Marcos (24 percent) and Cayetano (29 percent).

Robredo shared the statistical lead with Marcos across all social classes, Pulse Asia said.

Robredo obtained 32 percent in classes ABC, 30 percent in class D and 29 percent in class E. 

Marcos, on the other hand, got 29 percent in classes ABC, 29 percent in D and 24 percent in E.

Around four percent of the respondents answered “don’t know, refused, undecided or none.”

Escudero was the alternative candidate for vice president should the respondents’ first choice not pursue his or her bid.

With the momentum on their side, LP presidential bet Manuel Roxas II sees victory for him and Robredo in the May 9 elections.

“The momentum is now clearly with us. While our rivals’ standings have not move or declined, we’re moving up and this is a reflection of the continued trust and support of our countrymen and we thank them for that,” Roxas told reporters at the party headquarters in Quezon City.

“I know that many of you have just recently decided to vote for us, and we really appreciate and value your support for me and Leni,” he said.

He recalled that last year many thought that he and Robredo had no chance at all in the May elections. He said the changes in the poll standings were “a major development.”

He said many things could happen in the last five days before elections as he urged his supporters not to waver in their support for him and Robredo.

“This is the good fight. This is the fight of our lives. We will never give you a reason to regret supporting Leni and me,” Roxas said.

Roxas also said the Pulse Asia poll indicated the May elections are now down to a two-cornered fight between him and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“Many feel that it’ll be just Mayor Duterte and I who will slug it out. The people have seen that our campaign with Leni is the only one that is for clean, transparent and honest government,” Roxas said.

“The people have seen that in my over 20 years in public service, we’ve been clean, honest; and one who’s transparent compared to one who always talks dirty and engages in double-speak,” he said.

Meanwhile, Roxas said the problem posed by the Abu Sayyaf highlights the need to pursue the peace talks.

“This is the reason why we are pushing for peace. We want to have a progressive and peaceful Mindanao and to run after terrorists,” Roxas said.

“There is no room, there is no space for terrorists in our country,” he added.

Roxas urged the international community to reject the ransom demands of the bandits, noting that the money being demanded would be used to buy weapons and bullets. – With Paolo Romero, Alexis Romero