Fluid Pulse Asia result

After dropping to second place in the December survey due to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decision of disqualifying her for being a foundling and for allegedly not meeting the residency requirement, Senator Grace Poe (Independent) regained the number one spot in the latest non-commissioned Pulse Asia survey, conducted Jan. 24-28, with 30 percent of the votes, from 21 percent last month.

Erstwhile leader Vice President Jejomar Binay (United Nationalist Alliance) came in second at 23 percent, from 33 percent last survey. Mar Roxas (Liberal Party) and Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan) are statistically tied in third place at 20 percent.

Poe is also the leader in the Magdalo survey, with 30 percent. Binay was second, with 25 percent.

Poe is the most favored in the balance of Luzon, with 39 percent. She was statistically tied for first place in Metro Manila with Binay at 33 percent vs. 32 percent.

Roxas was the most preferred candidate in the Visayas, with 32 percent, while Duterte topped Mindanao, with 48 percent.

Poe is the most preferred by ‘Class D’ voters, with 32 percent, while Binay topped ‘Class E’ voters, with 30 percent.

Despite having no political ads, Senator Francis Escudero (Independent) topped the vice-presidential race, with 33 percent. Senator Bongbong Marcos (Independent) remained in second place, with 23 percent. Coming in third, with a higher 18 percent, is Leni Robredo (Liberal Party).

Senator Poe said she was overwhelmed and humbled by the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Regaining her lost numbers, Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said the recent political advertisements of Poe wherein it stresses that she is still a contender for president had a positive impact on her campaign.

Poe’s spokesman Mayor Rex Gatchalian said they will continue to amplify the message that she is still a candidate for the presidency.

The camp of Vice President Binay remains optimistic on his chances of winning the elections – “The numbers will be fluid but what will be constant for us is the Vice President’s direct contact with our people.”

Meanwhile, the youth group ‘Anakbayan’ said the prevailing anti-Aquino sentiment made Poe regain her lead in the surveys.

In the senatorial slate, Senator Vicente Sotto (Nationalist People’s Coalition) remained in first place, with a high of 68.8 percent of the vote, followed by Senator Francis Pangilinan, with 65.6 percent. Senator Ping Lacson was in third place, with 63.3 percent.

Non-senators in the Top 13 are Secretary Leila de Lima (LP), Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao (UNA), Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel (Akbayan), and Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian (NPC).

Proclamation rallies start today, with the Roxas-Robredo team scheduling a morning rally in Roxas City. Poe and Escudero will hold their proclamation rally at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo while Vice President Binay and Senator Gringo Honasan will hold theirs at 9 de Pebrero Welfareville in Mandaluyong City. The Duterte-Alan Peter Cayetano tandem will hold their initial rally at Morga Street in Tondo, Manila. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (People’s Reform Party) will be hosted by the Marcoses in Batac, Ilocos Norte. 

Erap: ‘Say no to drugs’

Mayor Joseph Estrada has re-launched the Drug Abuse Resistance Program (DARE).

All Grade 6 students in Manila’s 72 elementary schools are taught basic knowledge on how to avoid drug pushers who want to exploit them and how to report drug-connected persons to authorities.

“I am particularly concerned about children. Kasi sila ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan. Kaya ako, ginagawa ko ang lahat ng paraan upang maiiwas natin ang kabataan sa droga,” said Erap.

Even in New Hampshire, USA, drug addiction is a major election issue as one person dies from drug overdose every five days.

The latest confiscation of illegal drugs was made in Sta. Cruz, Manila where Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino was arrested.

Bongao mayor shot

Bongao, Tawi-Tawi Mayor Jasper Que was ambushed in Zamboanga City 9 a.m. Sunday morning.

Que suffered three gunshot wounds in the arm, legs and buttocks, fired by  motorcycle-riding gunmen. Que is a member of the Liberal Party.

Twenty-nine-year-old Alexander Nuñez of Rawis, Tondo was shot dead, with five bullet wounds, at 3 a.m. Sunday morning.

Three dead men found in Taguig have been identified.

Tidbits

The United Nation (UN) Security Council condemns North Korea’s rocket launch. Also condemning the North Korean rocket launch were the United States (US), Japan and China.

Happy birthday greeting to President Noynoy Aquino on his 56th birthday.

Happy birthday greetings to Sebastian Chua, owner of Star Paper.

Kung Hei Fat Choi to all our Chinoy readers.

Thirteen Filipina spa employees died in a hotel fire in Iraq.

Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach was a cheerleader at the Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California, won by the Denver Broncos over California Panthers, with a 24-10 victory.

The casualty death rate at the Taiwan earthquake has risen to 37, with 120 missing.

Condolence to the family of Ambassador Roy Señeres, who passed away yesterday.

Condolence to Congressman Pablo Garcia of Cebu on the death of his wife. Also, condolence to Rep. Gwen Garcia and Winston Garcia.