MANILA (CNA) – Philippine presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr (CNA pic below) retained a clear lead in a survey ahead of the May 9 election, though his lead has narrowed after Vice President Leni Robredo picked up support, an opinion poll showed yesterday.
Backing for Marcos, the son and namesake of the country’s late dictator, dropped slightly to 56 per cent, compared with 60 per cent in the previous Pulse Asia surveys in January and February, while Robredo’s support grew to 24 per cent from 15 per cent the month before.
The Pulse Asia survey of 2,400 people was conducted between March 17-21, when official campaigning was underway. At least two presidential debates, both of which Marcos skipped, have also taken place over the period.
Support for the other presidential contenders, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Senator Panfilo Lacson, was at eight per cent, six per cent and two per cent, respectively, the poll which was conducted face-to-face showed.
Marcos’s running mate, Sara-Duterte Carpio, daughter of incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, remained the top choice for vice president with 56 per cent support in the survey, while Senate President Vicente Sotto was in second place with 20 per cent support.
In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately.
