After President Noynoy Aquino finally anointed DILG Sec. Mar Roxas to be his successor and the Liberal Party’s standard bearer in the 2016 Philippine Presidential Election — which Mar has accepted in a gathering among friends and supporters at the historic Club Filipino — it is GAME ON in Philippine politics!
Even Vice President Binay is happy he now has a real nemesis in the race to Malacañang, being the first to declare his intent to run for President in 2016.
While kababayans are still eagerly awaiting the decision of Sen. Grace Poe — the frontrunner in the polls — as to whether she will seek higher office by running for President or Vice President, other names have been much talked about as better options: Davao’s Rudy Duterte, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Sen. Ping Lacson, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Francis Escudero, and Manila Mayor (and deposed) former Pres. Erap Estrada.
Prior to PNoy’s endorsement of Roxas on July 31, 2015, the Second Quarter 2015 Social Weather Survey revealed that Poe, Binay and Roxas top the people’s “three best leaders to succeed PNoy in 2016”.
According to the SWS report, when respondents were asked the question “Who do you think are the good leaders who should succeed Pres. Aquino as President? [You may give up to three names],” 42 percent named Sen. Poe, 34 percent named Vice Pres. Binay, and 21 percent named Sec. Roxas.
With the 55 percent rating of the Aquino Administration in the “Second Quarter 2015 Social Weather Survey: Net satisfaction with National Administration”, could Aquino’s endorsement give Mar Roxas the much needed momentum in his bid for the Presidency?
If the online poll on the Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” is to be the indicator, Filipinos in America overwhelmingly favor Roxas.
Immediately after PNoy’s endorsement and Mar’s acceptance on July 31, Balitang America asked its viewers and web visitors: “If the Philippine Presidential Elections were held today, who would you vote for? Roxas, Binay, or neither?
A big majority of those who voted — 85 percent voted for Roxas, 8 percent said neither, while 7 percent voted for Binay.
This result runs parallel to Aquino’s high favorability and satisfaction among Fil-Ams in the “Balitang America” poll after Pres. Aquino delivered his sixth and last SONA.
“Balitang America” asked its viewers and web visitors: “Do you think Pres. Aquino successfully adressed the Philippines’ pressing problems during his term?” 64 percent of those who voted answered YES.
The Balitang America “ISYU NGAYON” poll is just the first among many polls leading up to May 2016. As new names of candidates are added, political dynamics change, and new developments steal the headlines, this unofficial barometer of the Fil-Am’s political mood and opinion will be interesting to follow!
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
