Press Release
December 25, 2015

CHIZ GRATEFUL FOR TOPPING SURVEYS ANEW

Independent candidate Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero said he was elated by the unshakable support of the Filipino people for his candidacy, after the latest surveys by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), Pulse Asia and The Standard showed him topping the vice-presidential race for the May 2016 elections.

According to both SWS and Pulse Asia, Escudero remained the top choice for vice-president among the list of six candidates, with 30 and 29 percentage points, respectively.

The veteran lawmaker also emerged No. 1 in the eight-way fight for the second highest position in the land, obtaining a plurality of 33 percent, in the survey conducted by Laylo Research Strategies for The Standard.

"Nakatataba po ng puso ang mga resulta ng magkahiwalay na surveys. Patunay lamang ito na sa kabila ng mga pagsubok na kinakaharap namin ni Senator Grace ay patuloy pa ring nagtitiwala ang taumbayan sa mabuti naming hangarin para sa bansa," Escudero said.

Escudero, however, was quick to add that while surveys will continue to guide him and his running mate Sen. Grace Poe in the coming days, they will remain focus on spreading their platform of government for inclusive growth, transparency and global competitiveness.

"Tinitingnan at iginagalang naming ang resulta ng survey bilang giya para sa mga dapat pa naming gawin sa susunod na buwan. Ngunit gaya nang paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, bababa at tataas iyan," he pointed out.

In the survey by Pulse Asia, Escudero was followed by Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., 23 percent; Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, 18 percent; Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, 14 percent, Sen. Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan, 9 percent; and Sen. Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV, 4 percent.

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from December 4 to 11 among 1,800 respondents. Escudero led the other candidates in all locations surveyed--National Capital Region, the balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Escudero received the highest score of 33 percent in Luzon. He was also the top choice across all socioeconomic classes.

In the SWS survey conducted from Dec. 12 to 14 among 1,200 registered voters, about one-third of the respondents chose Escudero, whose numbers remain unchanged from November.

Tied on second spot with 19 percent each were Robredo and Marcos; followed by Cayetano at 17 percent, Honasan at 8 percent and Trillanes at 5 percent.

Escudero also got the highest rating among the vice-presidential candidates in The Standard Poll conducted from December 4 to 12 among 1,500 respondents from 76 provinces and all 17 localities in Metro Manila.

Poe also topped the same survey for presidential candidates at 28 percent. Trailing behind were Vice-President Jejomar Binay, who got 23 percent; Mar Roxas, 22 percent; Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, 19 percent; and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 3 percent.

Escudero admitted though that the unfavorable rulings of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) against Poe have affected her numbers, but these will not deter them.

"Hindi makakailang nakaapekto ang ang dalawang disqualification ng COMELEC. Mataas man o mababa sa survey, patuloy pa rin kaming mag-iikot para maiparating sa mga mamamayan ang aming mensahe," the veteran lawmaker said.

The start of the survey period came three days after the COMELEC Second Division issued on December 1 a resolution that ordered the cancellation of Poe's certificate of candidacy (COC) due to alleged false statements on her citizenship and residency.

It also covered the time when the COMELEC First Division issued on December 11 a similar resolution.

The Standard-commissioned survey showed Escudero still leading the pack by as much as 14 percentage points from his nearest rival, Marcos, who got 19 percent.

Other candidates listed in the vice-presidential survey were Cayetano, 18 percent; Robredo, 11 percent; Honasan, 7 percent; Trillanes, 6 percent; and Teodulo Malangen, the running mate of OFW party-list Rep. Roy Señeres; 6 percent.

"Ang survey na ito ay patunay na hindi natitinag ang suporta sa amin ni Senator Grace sa kabila ng matinding tangka na siya ay hindi mapabilang sa listahan ng mga kandidato sa pagka-pangulo. Makakaasa po ang taumbayan na puspusan pa rin ang aming pagtatrabaho upang pangalagaan ang kanilang pagtitiwala sa kabila ng mga pagharang sa kanyang kandidatura," Escudero said.

"Tinitingnan at iginagalang naming ang resulta ng survey bilang giya para sa mga dapat pa naming gawin sa susunod na buwan. Ngunit gaya nang paulit-ulit kong sinasabi, bababa at tataas iyan," he added.

In the survey, Escudero dominated all geographical regions, except Northern and Central Luzon. He was the top choice in the National Capital Region (42 percent), Bicol Region (41 percent), Visayas (32 percent), and Mindanao (29 percent).

He placed second in Northern and Central Luzon at 29 percent, next only to Marcos who acquired 35 percent.

Escudero also dominated both urban and rural areas at 36 percent and 32 percent, respectively.

In the previous Standard Poll of September 21 to October 1, Escudero was also the top choice of voters for vice president.

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