(Photo from the Malacañang Photo Bureau/ Joseph Vidal)
MANILA – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III greatly welcomed former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II’s improved standing in latest presidential preferences surveys despite still lagging behind Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay.
“The point here, the 18-point jump, that is very significant. So even if he is number two now, the so-called numbers before were quite far. And I suppose a lot are able to see that the continuity that we are pushing for should really be pursued by the people,” Aquino told reporters, referring to the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) presidential preference polls where Roxas’ percentage point jumped to 39 percent from 21 percent in the previous survey.
In the latest SWS poll, the administration’s standard bearer also gained big, being ‘statistically tied’ with Poe and Binay due to nominal point differences in their percentage points.
Roxas, for his part, remained optimistic with his improved ratings in recent pre-election surveys.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa suporta ng ating mga kababayan. Ikinagagalak po ng buong Daang Matuwid coalition ang nangyaring pag-angat sa ating mga numero sa huling survey ng SWS,” he said in a statement.
(I’m thankful for the support of our people. The increase in our numbers in the latest SWS survey has brought joy to the entire ‘Daang Matuwid’ (Straight Path) coalition.)
Poe’s citizenship issue
Meanwhile, Aquino also hoped that Poe’s citizenship issue will be resolved soon so that she may be able to join the presidential race in next year’s national elections.
“I am just trying to be careful with what I say. Now, she is being obligated to show that her parents are Filipino citizens so you can benefit from the concept being followed – jus sanguini – you follow the blood of the mother usually,” he said.
“So it seems fair to hope that the case she is facing now will be resolved soon, and in the end, she will be given the opportunity to let the people judge all those seeking their mandate,” he added.
Although having Roxas as his ‘anointed one,’ the President preferred that the Filipino people decide whether Poe should be his successor or not. Moreover, the administration would not take advantage of the issues the neophyte senator has been facing to spearhead the campaign of their presidential bet.