PRESS RELEASE
19 April 2016
Duterte takes clear lead in latest Pulse survey, Cayetano picks up pace, increases lead in Mindanao
Presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte once again topped Pulse Asia's latest voters' preference survey, surging ahead of Senator Grace Poe by a whopping seven percentage points.
The survey was commissioned by ABS-CBN and was conducted from April 5 to 10. It covered 4,000 registered voters nationwide, with an error margin of plus minus 1.5 percent. Duterte established a clear lead with 32 percent, which is a 2-point increase from his previous ratings in the March 29-April 3 survey.
Poe, meanwhile, trailed behind with only 25 percent. She was followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with 20 percent and Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas, who got 18 percent.
The tough-talking mayor was the top choice among all voting classes and remains to be the number one candidate in Mindanao, where he got 58 percent or more than half of the respondents’ total votes.
Duterte’s campaign team said while it is humbled by the latest survey results, it will continue to reach out to more voters. “We need to convert and convince others that the path to real change is through the unparalleled and decisive leadership that Mayor Duterte has been providing us," said Duterte's national campaign manager Leoncio Evasco Jr.
Cayetano gains momentum
Meanwhile, Duterte’s running mate, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, also enjoyed an increased rating compared to the previous Pulse Asia survey.
The senator’s numbers increased by 2 percentage points, from 15 percent in the March 29-April 3 survey to 17 percent in the April 5-10 survey. He also topped the survey in Mindanao, increasing his lead with 32 percent of respondents choosing him as their vice presidential bet.
Political analysts weighing in on the May polls claim that Cayetano’s numbers could still improve, especially following his outstanding performance during the first vice presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) held last April 10. #
