MANILA, Philippines鈥揤ice President Jejomar Binay maintained his lead among the presidential aspirants for the 2016 national elections, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.
Voter preference for Binay, who is being investigated in the Senate for the alleged irregularities in Makati when he was its mayor, increased from 26 percent in November last year to 29 percent in March.
The poll, conducted from March 1 to 7, also showed that while Sen. Grace Poe retained the No. 2 spot, her voter preference rating dropped from 18 percent to 14 percent.
Manila Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada inched higher with 12 percent (up from 7 percent) while Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who was previously not included in the survey questionnaire, tied with him in fourth place.
They are followed by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago (9 percent) and Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. (6 percent).
The second half of the list of potential presidential candidates include Interior Secretary Manuel 鈥淢ar鈥� Roxas II (4 percent), Senators Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero (4 percent), Alan Peter Cayetano (3 percent) and Antonio 鈥淪onny鈥� Trillanes IV (2 percent), former Sen. Panfilo 鈥淧ing鈥� Lacson (1 percent) and Philippine Red Cross chair Richard 鈥淒ick鈥� Gordon (1 percent).
Poe also retained the top spot among potential vice presidential candidates. However, voter preference for the senator dropped from 33 percent in November to 29 in March.
The rest of the top 10 possible vice presidential aspirants are as follows: Escudero (16 percent), Cayetano (13 percent), Duterte (11 percent), Marcos (11 percent), Trillanes (6 percent), Estrada (4 percent), Senate President Franklin Drilon (3 percent), detained Sen. Ramon 鈥淏ong鈥� Revilla Jr. (2 percent) and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo (0.4 percent).
Still leading the possible candidates for senators in 2016 is Sen. Vicente 鈥淭ito鈥� Sotto III.
Rounding up the Top 15 are Lacson, Marcos, Secretary Francis 鈥淜iko鈥� Pangilinan, Drilon, Sen. Ralph Recto, former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Sergio 鈥淪erge鈥� Osme帽a III, Gordon, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, former Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Sen. Teofisto 鈥淭G鈥� Guingona III, Taguig Rep. Lino Cayetano and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.
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