Aquino’s endorsement for Mar works

WALANG IBA KUNG HINDI SI MAR ROXAS: President Benigno S. Aquino III endorsed the 2016 presidential bid of Mar Roxas, in a gathering at the historic Club Filipino on July 31, 2015. (Photo: Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office)

MANILA — Supporters of administration presidential bet Mar Roxas on Monday believed that the big leap of former Interior and Local Government secretary in the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey only shows that President Aquino’s endorsement works.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Secretary Roxas was just in the right spot at this point of the election season.

“He doesn’t have to lead the pack this early. I think the major factor of the jump of his rating was the endorsement of Pnoy,” Evardone, a stalwart of the Liberal Party said.

He said that once “Pnoy starts campaigning nationwide, we can expect a more favorable support for Mar Roxas plus the fact that he is really a good and viable candidate because of his integrity and track record. We should be able to maintain this position before the homestretch of the campaign period.”

Even the spokesman of Nationalist People Coalition (NPC) admitted he was amazed by the big leap of Roxas in the third quarter survey of SWS.

The survey shows that it is now Senator Grace Poe that leads the latest presidential survey who rose to 47 percent in the poll conducted from September 2 to 5, five points better than her second quarter result.

Roxas, meanwhile, surged to second with 39 percent from 21 percent last June. Binay slipped to third with 35 percent, one point higher than his June result.

Actor turned politician Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said it’s only the beginning. Mar has not even begun campaigning yet.

“Tingin ko yung pagtaas na yan sa survey ay patunay lamang na gustong manatili ng marami sa Daang Matuwid. In my own district, Novaliches QC, kita ang dulot ng good governance sa buhay ng mga constituents natin. The 4Ps, PHilhealth and infra projects are concrete programs that people benefit from. With this dramatic increase of Mar in the survey, it just goes to show that people believe him to be the most fit to become the next president. Tataas pa yan later on. We have a long way to go. Mar is getting stronger by the day,” he said in an interview.

For her part, Yacap Party-list Rep. Carol Lopez said it may be a pick 3 but that has always been the methodology used bu SWS the past 4 surveys.

“I think so bottomline Grace Poe has plateaued, Binay going down, Mar has the upward momentum,” she pointed out.

According to Lopez, Mar was way behind Binay in the 3 previous surveys in Dec 14, Binay’s lead over Mar was 18 pts (37 Binay to 19 Mar), in Mar 15, Binay’s lead went up to 21 pts (36 to 15), in June, the lead was 13 pts (34 v. 21). Now in Sept., Mar overtook Binay by 4points (39 to 35). Binay just rose by 1 pt but Mar rose by 18 points. Binay grew only. 2.9% while Mar rose by a whopping 86%.

“True that Grace still leads. But rose by only 5 pts. We’ll see how she fares in the 4th quarter survey to see if her declaration has made an impact,” she said.