Pinoy Buzz: Miriam Defensor Santiago

EDITORIAL: Salamat Miriam! How to say goodbye to a legend?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In every street surrounding the Immaculate Conception Cathedral last night, thousands of people volunteered to kill their legs as they braved the long line on what looked like a meeting de avance of a frontrunner presidential candidate. Unfortunately, all were queuing up just to have a final glimpse of someone, a legend. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzXJ00a62dobF7nbj73ratTwn6mwyfhDH7dkl5AJp8EQeq8GetLxlyCu6dRW_9-PxSNFhwqaybssODAck4a8oujMsZ49FybTSV1pv-aBPKxuAelHKyhacHV2q02-G07mfGYtBLKWr73A/s1600/miriam-defensor-santiago-young-rmaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago." border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzXJ00a62dobF7nbj73ratTwn6mwyfhDH7dkl5AJp8EQeq8GetLxlyCu6dRW_9-PxSNFhwqaybssODAck4a8oujMsZ49FybTSV1pv-aBPKxuAelHKyhacHV2q02-G07mfGYtBLKWr73A/s1600/miriam-defensor-santiago-young-rmaf.jpeg" title="Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago." /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.</td></tr></tbody></table>Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, the life of the senate, walking encyclopedia and queen of pick-up lines has finally “fade into the night like Batman” last Thursday, September 29, at the age of 71, after two years of battling lung cancer.<br /><br /><b>Political career</b><br /><br />Miriam’s track record is unparalleled. Having served in all three branches of the government, it was her stint as the head of the then Commission on Immigration and Deportation that she started making a bang. Etching a trademark as the enemy number one of illegal aliens and corrupt government officials, Miriam was given a rare opportunity by young Filipinos who were thirsty for change that time – a ticket to Malacañang, the unconditional support to become another female president after Cory.<br /><br />A back-to-back female presidency will be a first in the modern world history if Miriam will win in the election that time. A Santiago presidency will bring the Philippines back again on the global stage, being the sole country upholding women empowerment at its highest level. <br /><br />However at that time, God was developing a new strategy on how to create a new breed of legend, and she was handpicked by God to undergo that kind of experiment.<br /><br /><b>Tenacity to conquer adversity</b><br /><br />Nothing could be more heartbreaking than losing in the presidential race thrice – either being the second placer or the perennial cellar dweller, lose a seat in an international court due to cancer, and most of all, lose a beloved son while at the peak of becoming the finest legal luminary of your time.<br /><br />But Miriam went through all those tragedies and prevailed. God intended to make Miriam a legend, and she didn’t disappoint Him.<br /><br />Rising from the ashes of her failed presidential bid in ’92, Miriam became the queen of the senate for three times, having filed the most number of bills. She became the life of every senate hearings, actively lashing out against public officials and law offenders whenever they reason out any idiotic responses. And when everyone was clinging on to power, to save themselves, the legalist inside Miriam’s soul remained intact. For the feisty senator, the constitution must prevail at all times. She has ambitions, yes, but she’s willing to reconcile those for the greater good of the nation.<br /><br /><b>“Queen Mother of the Youth” and “Social Media Rockstar”</b><br /><br />She also became an author of must-read books including the recent blockbuster hits “Stupid is Forever” and “Stupid is Forevermore”. But it was not only through her witty statements, pick-up lines and being a social media savvy that made the “Iron Lady of Asia” as the universal best friend of the millennials. It was her firm belief to the youth that they have the capacity to harness great changes that made them embrace her ideologies, antics and flaws.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFZ3sL6FeydY7cCOJU5pB-9GopEwgeqcmPpPkYD9pcr_UBMzoqMt8DWRiUI6UKMHu_4kZf4AQOYhpq9PJZR0QXG_QdujR9uG3qbpLlAX0JePuh98pGBl3Vy_Qm3uIHFAqhgunTBzqhBY/s1600/miriam-santiago-university-of-cebu.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="“Queen Mother of the Youth” and “Social Media Rockstar”" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFZ3sL6FeydY7cCOJU5pB-9GopEwgeqcmPpPkYD9pcr_UBMzoqMt8DWRiUI6UKMHu_4kZf4AQOYhpq9PJZR0QXG_QdujR9uG3qbpLlAX0JePuh98pGBl3Vy_Qm3uIHFAqhgunTBzqhBY/s1600/miriam-santiago-university-of-cebu.jpg" title="“Queen Mother of the Youth” and “Social Media Rockstar”" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">A younger Miriam during her campaign sortie at the University of Cebu. Photo credit: Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago official Facebook page</td></tr></tbody></table>Political analyst and CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera was right. It was Miriam alone who believed that a “youth vote” exists in the Philippine electoral society. Miriam’s epic political journey has been ignited and continuously fueled by the youth that came from different generations. The welfare of the youth has always been the core of her political capital. She cultivated the norm that young voters should emulate on them the highest standards when choosing their leaders. She made sure that these young minds will always have that kind of leaders to vote for as she continuously offered her brand of leadership.<br /><br />She set the standard, and then she became the standard.<br /><br /><b><i>Salamat</i> Miriam</b><br /><br />Salamat Miriam. Singapore has Lee Kuan Yew, the United Kingdom has Margaret Thatcher and you were given to us. Unlike the previous two, we never gave you the chance to govern this chaotic nation. We deeply regret it. We are sorry, your services were not properly compensated. But we promise that next time, if somebody will offer his/her service to the country, we promise to  accord that person with love and support, things that we never fully gave to you after all that you have done.<br /><br /><i>Salamat</i> Miriam. As you finally made sure that you will no longer post tweets in your official Twitter account, this nation finds itself lost for words on how to say goodbye to you. Not because you’ve done so much for us, but because on how we took you for granted. But hopefully, your death will wake this sleeping race to compose ourselves and do what is right to make this country a better place as how it was destined to be.<br /><br /><i>Salamat</i> Miriam. For staying with us despite the odds and for believing that this country is not a lost case. Thank you for believing that the Filipino nation is a bunch of superior intellectuals, able to go head on head with the rest of the world. Truly, we are capable of doing greater things, and that we are not a poor country, we just have a mismanaged economy as what you’ve said back in 1992.<br /><br /><b>Salamat </b>Miriam. For the senate bills, pick-up lines and for giving us hope. There will never be any constitutional provision that will prohibit the Filipino people from being inspired by your character and brand of leadership. We will not just remember, but we will also take part in continuing your legacy to establish a culture of shared destiny among us. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9MgbiBiZw1YGXj4n8QriTcpwjjUL0GjvMqkxvuz8Zs8GnCqR1OorGwMEJVqKW3x3QlOTzonmMHZ0F0fj6vWG3p4yrKJfDvkKGYl71qNpUgL-FhVryfwW2Wg9aEDCZrkXJ3GtbzgM6Ys/s1600/miriam-meet-and-greet-proclamation.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Miriam Santiago farewell" border="0" class="img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9MgbiBiZw1YGXj4n8QriTcpwjjUL0GjvMqkxvuz8Zs8GnCqR1OorGwMEJVqKW3x3QlOTzonmMHZ0F0fj6vWG3p4yrKJfDvkKGYl71qNpUgL-FhVryfwW2Wg9aEDCZrkXJ3GtbzgM6Ys/s1600/miriam-meet-and-greet-proclamation.jpg" title="Miriam Santiago farewell" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">Until the very end. Miriam proclaiming her third and final attempt to run for the presidency. Photo credit: Ben Nabong/Rappler</td></tr></tbody></table>To the best president that this country never had, <i>salamat</i>! This is our ultimate hugot line for you.<br /><br />The Summit Express mourns with the entire nation on the passing of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.<br /><br /><b>-- Michael Santiago, The Summit Express</b></div>

EDITORIAL: Salamat Miriam! How to say goodbye to a legend?

In every street surrounding the Immaculate Conception Cathedral last night, thousands of people volunteered to kill their legs as they brave...

Duterte widens lead; Robredo zooms to No. 1, tied with Marcos - SWS

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - Despite drawing flak over his rape joke involving an Australian lay minister killed in a 1989 prison riot, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has pulled away in the presidential race, according to the latest BusinessWorld-Social Weather Stations (SWS) pre-election survey.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaPF7bzIAm0bXIBj4-IWXTiXAcBAaissZBnIie5ZcEkmWInYe0r0hA64QM6NBxkeswG1pMf6KaedwV16yrk4dRuub2iacna18DNxB6e38Kp_fDGlJiPiTvG8o8kFyAyodbfvanNSmzij2/s1600/duterte-robredo-marcos.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Duterte widens lead; Robredo zooms to No. 1, tied with Marcos" border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaPF7bzIAm0bXIBj4-IWXTiXAcBAaissZBnIie5ZcEkmWInYe0r0hA64QM6NBxkeswG1pMf6KaedwV16yrk4dRuub2iacna18DNxB6e38Kp_fDGlJiPiTvG8o8kFyAyodbfvanNSmzij2/s640/duterte-robredo-marcos.jpg" title="Duterte widens lead; Robredo zooms to No. 1, tied with Marcos" width="560" /></a></div><br />The survey which used sample size of 1,800 validated voters, conducted from April 18-20  (with sampling error margins of ±2 points) revealed that Duterte's voter preference rating rise to 33%. In the previous survey held on March 30-April 2, he had 27% rating.<br /><br />The Davao City Mayor's spokesperson Peter Tiu Laviña told BusinessWorld “this is most encouraging result given that the black propaganda against Duterte intensified during this period.”<br /><br />“This only affirms the strong clamor of our people for genuine change. Duterte has become a rallying symbol for all classes -- poor, middle and rich -- long fed up with ‘trapos’ messing up our country. We shall make use of the support of our people as inspiration to ensure their victory on May 9,” Mr. Laviña said in a text message, using the Filipino word for “rag” that has been adopted to refer to “traditional politicians”.<br /><br />Erstwhile frontrunner Sen. Grace Poe got 24% voter preference rating, up one percentage point from previous poll.<br /><br />Liberal Party's standard bearer Mar Roxas secured the third spot while Vice-President Jejomar Binay dropped to fourth place with 14%.<br /><br />Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago is still in fifth place with 2%.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vAJzHZkMetNxoBR6_RejdxIyAkb9KHgxegAKlQwzEQfpUToFgF4kpUFTxtXrK3rgZVDyN-VVz-orynMM8BrctlmzKfW3i_YHKh5rH0bumr9BMXzkGxd99nhHctYyoi7o3USiPJKTgNt7/s1600/duterte-pulls-away.png" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Duterte pulls away in the latest SWS survey." border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vAJzHZkMetNxoBR6_RejdxIyAkb9KHgxegAKlQwzEQfpUToFgF4kpUFTxtXrK3rgZVDyN-VVz-orynMM8BrctlmzKfW3i_YHKh5rH0bumr9BMXzkGxd99nhHctYyoi7o3USiPJKTgNt7/s640/duterte-pulls-away.png" title="Duterte pulls away in the latest SWS survey." width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duterte pulls away in the latest SWS survey. Photo Credit: BusinessWorldOnline</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>Robredro, Marcos tied for VP</b><br /><br />The widow of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo has gained significant numbers as compared to the previous poll.<br /><br />Leni Robredo zoomed to the top spot garnering 26% of votes, up by seven percent and in statistical tie with Senator Bongbong Marcos with 25%.<br /><br />Sen. Francis Escudero dropped to third place with 18%, followed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano with 16%.<br /><br />Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV received 5%, while Sen. Gregorio Honasan II has a 2% voter preference rating.<br /><br /><b>Senatorial race</b><br /><br />The same survey also showed that reelectionist Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (LP) and Senator Vicente C. Sotto III (Nationalist People’s Coalition) are still in the running for the top two seats in the Senate out of the 12 up for grabs on May 9 polls.<br /><br />Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao managed to get the third spot, followed by Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima, Joel Villanueva,  Sergio Osmena III,  and Richard Gordon.<br /><br />Reelectionist Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto (LP) is tied at 12th-13th place with Valenzuela City 1st District Rep. Sherwin T. Gatchalian (NPC).</div>

Duterte widens lead; Robredo zooms to No. 1, tied with Marcos - SWS

MANILA, Philippines - Despite drawing flak over his rape joke involving an Australian lay minister killed in a 1989 prison riot, Davao City ...

Duterte overtakes Poe in new Pulse Asia survey, Marcos claims lead for VP

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has overtaken consistent front-runner Senator Grace Poe in the new pre-electoral national survey conducted by Pulse Asia and commissioned by broadcast giant ABS-CBN.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kfWq8lYOHTDr1ZGvakvhV2nXeEak1SLJRiFZ0DtW6wCbM-ioomHKuIb8fs4sSreB7V_g3ySjO9bHGwZKurXVctnxLCbTeW47VjJZHuwPI5ykVKAT6BNrC01eTgVAngvtx0YAJkQuzttW/s1600/duterte-marcos.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (left) tops presidential race; Senator Bongbong Marcos takes lead for VP." border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kfWq8lYOHTDr1ZGvakvhV2nXeEak1SLJRiFZ0DtW6wCbM-ioomHKuIb8fs4sSreB7V_g3ySjO9bHGwZKurXVctnxLCbTeW47VjJZHuwPI5ykVKAT6BNrC01eTgVAngvtx0YAJkQuzttW/s640/duterte-marcos.jpg" title="Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (left) tops presidential race; Senator Bongbong Marcos takes lead for VP." width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (left) tops presidential race; Senator Bongbong Marcos takes lead for VP.</td></tr></tbody></table>Pulse Asia on Tuesday, April 12, said they used using face-to-face interviews to 4,000 registered voters during the survey fieldwork from March 29 – April 3. The research firm said the nationwide survey has a ± 1.5% error margin at the 95% confidence level.<br /><br />If the May 2016 elections were held during the survey period, 30% of Filipino registered voters would elect Duterte as the country’s next president.<br /><br />Poe has been relegated to second place (25%) while Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay and former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II find themselves statistically tied for third place (20% and 19%, respectively). <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nUMNlMiCNgivByeZahHbOkVyTG5uFgVzG3Kw2ZQTb9cVgRmdwszKd1JAPg-IYCpPl9geZYFPMYECO4txkMDy3lPoJHq6hPVB0BK5Dxm4ph11-Q3dHt5caXu_TZbBVAzG_yqNhP4gRWbi/s1600/duterte-top1.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Duterte leads presidential race" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nUMNlMiCNgivByeZahHbOkVyTG5uFgVzG3Kw2ZQTb9cVgRmdwszKd1JAPg-IYCpPl9geZYFPMYECO4txkMDy3lPoJHq6hPVB0BK5Dxm4ph11-Q3dHt5caXu_TZbBVAzG_yqNhP4gRWbi/s640/duterte-top1.JPG" title="Duterte leads presidential race" width="560" /></a></div><br />Only 2% of registered voters choose to support Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s presidential bid.<br /><br />In terms of second-choice voter preference, Poe leads with 31%. Binay registers the second highest second- choice voter preference of 19%.<br /><br />Pulse Asia said that almost two (2) out of every 10 registered voters with a first choice for president (17%) do not have an alternative candidate for the post. Senator Poe has the most to gain should Davao City Mayor Duterte not pursue his candidacy as 41% of his original voters name her as their alternative presidential candidate.<br /><br /><b>BBM leads vice presidential race</b><br /><br />With 28% of registered voters naming him as their original candidate for vice-president, Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. leads the vice-presidential race.<br /><br />Sharing second place are Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor G. Robredo (22%) and Senator Francis Escudero (21%). Moreover, 15% support the candidacy of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, 5% favor Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and 4% back Senator Gregorio Honasan II. Only 5% of registered voters do not name a favored vice-presidential candidate. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsaIdBx5lQS9yp35WLPzZSoEdZcQvwbj5zRU7gOcf92XWoWc6Ze7E7CnWY_z80xqDiGkCVQyHA-Vk_ewnQotujAVk-0SyV3qFnUpU1r8xJI-yAO0nK9WjOP3zuEQ1IH0GmoDQ3GmfBovo/s1600/marcos-top1-pulse.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="BBM leads vice presidential race" border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsaIdBx5lQS9yp35WLPzZSoEdZcQvwbj5zRU7gOcf92XWoWc6Ze7E7CnWY_z80xqDiGkCVQyHA-Vk_ewnQotujAVk-0SyV3qFnUpU1r8xJI-yAO0nK9WjOP3zuEQ1IH0GmoDQ3GmfBovo/s640/marcos-top1-pulse.JPG" title="BBM leads vice presidential race" width="560" /></a></div><br /><b>12 probable winners in the May 2016 senatorial elections</b><br /><br />Of the 50 senatorial candidates in the coming elections, 12 have a statistical chance of making it to the winners’ circle.<br /><br />Among these probable winners, five (5) are running under the Liberal Party (LP), four (4) are independent candidates, and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and Akbayan all have a candidate each. <br /><br />Leading the list of probable winners are Senator Vicente Sotto III (49.4%) and Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (48.9%), both of whom are ranked 1st to 2nd.<br /><br />Among the other candidates with a statistical chance of winning are: (1) former Senator Francis N. Pangilinan (45.0%, 3rd to 4th places); (2) former Senator Panfilo M. Lacson (43.9%, 3rd to 4th places) and (3) former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (37.3%, 5th to 6th places).<br /><br />Also included in the list are: (4) former Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. de Lima (36.5%, 5th to 9th places); (5) Senator Sergio Osmena III (34.1%, 6th to 12th places); (6) Senator Ralph Recto (34.0%, 6th to 12th places); (7) Sarangani Representative Emmanuel Pacquiao (33.6%, 6th to 12th places); (8) former Senator Richard Gordon (32.6%, 7th to 12th places); (9) former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Emmanuel Villanueva (32.3%, 7th to 12th places); and (10) former Akbayan Party List Representative Risa Hontiveros (32.1%, 7th to 12th places).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihf7fOsLuUv-AGxYOrlNJJ_DxWi2-4KR_h9vqYZUl7Pm6euKNuDa-nvMVYdz-aATJUZb7wwAnzlUpT9-cq4Im9ujwH5Pbh9j9q0GIpZ6HdhS83cEwqy7q5uyUk-iuGW4aNjGr1vRDPrDmD/s1600/top-12-senators.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="top 12 senators" border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihf7fOsLuUv-AGxYOrlNJJ_DxWi2-4KR_h9vqYZUl7Pm6euKNuDa-nvMVYdz-aATJUZb7wwAnzlUpT9-cq4Im9ujwH5Pbh9j9q0GIpZ6HdhS83cEwqy7q5uyUk-iuGW4aNjGr1vRDPrDmD/s640/top-12-senators.JPG" title="top 12 senators" width="560" /></a></div><br /></div>

Duterte overtakes Poe in new Pulse Asia survey, Marcos claims lead for VP

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has overtaken consistent front-runner Senator Grace Poe in the new pre-electoral n...

Election 2016: Duterte leads latest SWS survey

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">MANILA, Philippines - The tough talking mayor of Davao City has surpassed Senator Grace Poe in the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyndY1BbP4qXNbnP4RdzQgpkBV94yuQmYbyLkCvF2_46R_bBrJtA61oXUW-cRWcp4jukJrfp29mtyo5Zr4lXraoGNs2GIWoc0CmpVxSfrysLEbGJ5o3ZN1lTwQMbBWd5M-4utyTd9g_EOL/s1600/duterte-leads-sws-survey.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rody Duterte leads SWS poll" border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyndY1BbP4qXNbnP4RdzQgpkBV94yuQmYbyLkCvF2_46R_bBrJtA61oXUW-cRWcp4jukJrfp29mtyo5Zr4lXraoGNs2GIWoc0CmpVxSfrysLEbGJ5o3ZN1lTwQMbBWd5M-4utyTd9g_EOL/s640/duterte-leads-sws-survey.jpg" title="Rody Duterte leads SWS poll" width="560" /></a></div><br />The first quarter survey conducted last March 30 to April 2016 showed that 27% of the respondents preferred Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte, who was up by four points from the last survey held in early March. The results were obtained through face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults.<br /><br />Former consistent frontrunner Poe plunged to second place with 23% and is statistically tied with Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay who garnered 20% of the votes. Liberal party standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II came in third place with 18%.With three percent of the votes, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago remained at the last place.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqaoVQ3JnkzVp9Uz_GP66BG6VK8d0_OhWZ0krJXztD3wnc7Z-Zjf4KY-5fJWRmw1mDI0l1D2zckCu1aoUyRqrPzdI3ElWoyo42UFiXmLUq-jf8FHB-YR5pL6UdRpiTpLeuL2CB1zI53ph/s1600/voter-preference-presidential.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="nofollow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has overtaken consistent frontrunner Senator Grace Poe in the latest SWS survey." border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqaoVQ3JnkzVp9Uz_GP66BG6VK8d0_OhWZ0krJXztD3wnc7Z-Zjf4KY-5fJWRmw1mDI0l1D2zckCu1aoUyRqrPzdI3ElWoyo42UFiXmLUq-jf8FHB-YR5pL6UdRpiTpLeuL2CB1zI53ph/s640/voter-preference-presidential.JPG" title="Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has overtaken consistent frontrunner Senator Grace Poe in the latest SWS survey." width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has overtaken consistent frontrunner </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Senator Grace Poe in the latest SWS survey. </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo Credit: SWS</span></td></tr></tbody></table>On Monday, April 11, the camp of Duterte expressed its gratitude for the favorable results of the survey.<br /><br />Duterte’s spokesman Peter Tiu Lavina told Inquirer: “We are grateful that the surveys are now reflecting what we have been witnessing and experiencing on the ground.The new SWS survey affirms the other surveys that have Duterte on the clear lead in the presidential race.”<br /><br />Lavina also said that informal exit polls in the overseas absentee voting proved the overwhelming support of Filipinos abroad for Duterte. According to him, the rise in support is likely the result of efforts not just by their campaign teams and candidates but also by volunteers as well as support groups in and out of the country.<br /><br />Still, Duterte’s campaign manager Leoncio “Jun” Evasco said their team will not be self-assured. He urged Duterte supporters to make sure the support and results of the survey will be turned into votes. <br /><br />"It is not over until it is over,” Evasco said.<b> </b><br /><b><br /></b><b>Marcos tops vice-presidential race</b><br /><b><br /></b><b></b><br />The latest scores in the Vice-Presidential race are: Bongbong Marcos 26%, Chiz Escudero 21%, Leni Robredo 19%, Alan Peter Cayetano 13%, Gringo Honasan 5% and Antonio Trillanes IV 5%. 5% of the respondents said they are still undecided.<br />- <b>Mini, The Summit Express</b></div>

Election 2016: Duterte leads latest SWS survey

MANILA, Philippines - The tough talking mayor of Davao City has surpassed Senator Grace Poe in the latest survey conducted by the Social Wea...