Poe still most favored presidential bet – SWS/TV5 survey

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Grace Poe remained the most favored presidential candidate in the latest Bilang Pilipino Social Weather Stations (SWS) Mobile Survey commissioned by TV5.

Poe, who is running as an independent candidate, received the support of 34 percent of respondents based on the SWS poll taken on March 30. Poe’s score, however, was a point down from 35 percent in the SWS March 22 survey.

Poe is followed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of PDP-Laban with 31 percent, up from 26 percent in the previous Bilang Pilipino SWS Mobile Survey.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas and United Nationalist Alliance bet Vice President Jejomar Binay received 17 percent each.

Roxas’ rating was unchanged, while Binay’s score was down by a point.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago of the People’s Reform Party remained the tail-ender, with one percent, down from two percent in the March 22 poll.

The Bilang Pilipino SWS Mobile Survey had 1,200 original panel respondents. However, only 733 or 61 percent responded in the March 30 poll: 201 in Metro Manila, 170 in balance Luzon, 193 in the Visayas and 169 in Mindanao.

This gives sampling error margins of plus or minus four percentage points for national percentages. The respondents are all validated voters.

In balance Luzon, Poe was the top choice for president with 39 percent, followed by Binay with 22 percent; Duterte, 21 percent; Roxas, 16 percent; and Santiago, one percent. None reported as undecided.

In the Visayas, Poe also led the race with 37 percent; followed by Roxas with 25 percent; Duterte, 23 percent; Binay, 12 percent; and Santiago, two percent.

Two percent were undecided.

In Mindanao, Duterte dominated the presidential derby with 56 percent, followed by Poe, 24 percent; Roxas, 11 percent; Binay, nine percent; and Santiago, zero percent. One percent was undecided.

In urban areas, the top pick was Duterte with 36 percent, followed by Poe with 30 percent; Binay with 17 percent; Roxas with 16 percent; and Santiago with one percent.

Poe, on the other hand, was the most preferred bet in the rural areas with 38 percent, followed by Duterte with 25 percent; Roxas 18 percent; Binay 16 percent; and Santiago, one percent.

By class, Duterte emerged as the favorite candidate of class ABC with 43 percent, followed by Poe with 31 percent; Roxas, 18 percent; Binay, six percent; and Santiago one percent.

On the other hand, Poe was the top choice for president by respondents in class D, garnering 34 percent, followed by Duterte with 30 percent; Roxas and Binay got 17 percent each; and Santiago, one percent.

Among class E, Poe was the top bet with 36 percent, followed by Duterte with 28 percent; Binay, 18 percent; Roxas, 17 percent; and Santiago, zero percent.

Among men, Duterte was the top presidential bet with 36 percent, followed by Poe with 30 percent; Roxas, 17 percent; Binay, 15 percent; and Santiago, one percent.

Among women, Poe led the race with 37 percent, followed by Duterte with 26 percent; Binay, 18 percent; Roxas, 17 percent; and Santiago, one percent.

By age group, Poe and Duterte took the top spots at 38 percent each among respondents aged 18-24, followed by Roxas and Binay with 12 percent. Santiago did not receive any vote from this age group.

Among respondents aged 25-34, Poe obtained 37 percent, followed by Duterte with 34 percent; Binay, 18 percent; Roxas, nine percent; and Santiago one percent.

Among respondents aged 35-44, Poe got 36 percent, followed by Duterte with 27 percent; Binay 20 percent; Roxas, 14 percent; and Santiago, one percent.

Among the 45-54 age bracket, Poe received 31 percent, followed by Duterte with 26 percent; Roxas, 25 percent; Binay, 16 percent; and Santiago, one percent.

Among respondents aged 55 and above, Duterte was the top bet with 31 percent, followed by Poe with 27 percent; Roxas, 25 percent; Binay, 16 percent; and Santiago, one percent.

By education, a little over half (52 percent) chose Poe, followed by Duterte with 24 percent among non-elementary graduates.

Among elementary graduates, Poe was the top choice with 34 percent, while Duterte obtained 27 percent.

Among high school graduates, Poe also dominated the race with 34 percent. She was four points ahead of Duterte’s 30 percent.

Among college graduates, Duterte topped with 44 percent, 23 points ahead of Poe’s 21 percent.

The survey also found majorities in all areas saying that they will definitely not change their minds regarding whom they will vote for as president in the coming elections.

This certainty was highest in Metro Manila and Mindanao at 61 percent each, followed by the Visayas at 59 percent and balance Luzon at 57 percent.

It was equally high in urban and rural areas, at 60 percent and 57 percent, respectively.

By class, it was 59 percent in both class ABC and class D, and 58 percent in class E.

It was equally high among women and men, at 59 percent and 58 percent, respectively.

By age, it was highest among 35-44 at 66 percent, followed by 55 years old and above at 63 percent, 18-24 at 58 percent, 45-54 at 54 percent, and 25-34 at 53 percent.

Meanwhile, the Bilang Pilipino SWS Mobile Survey conducted on March 29 asked the respondents “who among the candidates for president of the Philippines you do not like to win most.”

Roxas was the candidate whom most of the respondents do not like to win, obtaining 27 percent, followed by Binay with 24 percent; Duterte with 17 percent; Santiago with 10 percent; and Poe with five percent. The remaining 17 percent of respondents answered, “don’t know.”

Poe clarifies INC visit

Meanwhile, Poe clarified that her visit to Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) office in Quezon City last Saturday “was just a courtesy call.”

The INC has made no commitment yet to endorse her presidential bid, she said.

“It’s up to them. Whatever place or religious organization we go to does not mean it will support us. Of course, they will be the ones to decide on who to support. But we’re just going around and paying courtesy call on any organization anywhere,” Poe said in Filipino.

She added that she took the chance to present to top INC officials her platform of government, but there is no talk about the pending cases between INC ministers and their former members. – With Christina Mendez