Metro Manila, the country’s economic and political center, prefers Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte —who is known for his tough stance on crime—as the next President.

The upper and middle classes, as well as the poor, gave Duterte the highest scores among presidential aspirants in a survey conducted by Pulse Asia Research Inc. two weeks ago.

Poe got 26 percent; Vice President Jejomar Binay, 22 percent; former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, 11 percent; and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 7 percent.

Asked about the survey, Duterte last night said he did not know why people from Metro Manila chose him, a “probinsyano.”

“I am happy if I am leading or just equal to Poe. I am running on a matter of principle because I don’t want anyone messing up the Constitution.” Duterte said in a phone interview.

“It’s a matter of principle and there are times and events in your life that you just do what you have to do,” he added.

Respondents were showed a list of five names (Binay, Duterte, Poe, Roxas and Santiago) and were asked, “If the following were candidates for President of the Philippines, whom would you vote for if the 2016 elections were held today?”

Pulse Asia conducted face-to-face interviews with 300 respondents from Nov. 11 to 12, or less than two weeks before Duterte declared that he would seek the presidency in the May 2016 general elections.

Privately commissioned

The privately commissioned survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Pulse Asia confirmed that it ran the survey.

It was only on Nov. 21 when Duterte declared his bid for the presidency at a private party in Dasmariñas, Cavite province, a complete turnaround from his earlier statements that he was not seeking the highest elective post in the land despite appeals from his supporters.

At the private party, the Davao mayor said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party would be his running mate.

Platform of gov’t

Duterte and Cayetano are campaigning on a strong anticrime and corruption platform.

Both are pushing for federalism as an alternative form of government to push for political and economic reforms throughout the country.

Just two months ago, Duterte placed second in Metro Manila, 4 percentage points behind the then front-runner, Poe.

Results of the Pulse Asia survey in September showed that Duterte got 27 percent, lower than the 31 percent obtained by Poe. Binay came in third with 26 percent, Roxas was fourth with 13 percent.

Vice President

In the survey for vice presidential candidates this month, Sen. Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero, Poe’s running mate, was leading with 32 percent, followed by Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., 24  percent, and Cayetano, 20 percent. Pulse Asia said Marcos and Cayetano are statistically tied.

Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, running mate of Roxas, got 10 percent; Sen. Gringo Honasan, running mate of Binay, 8 percent; and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, 4 percent.

Rich, middle class for Duterte

Among members of the ABC socioeconomic class, Duterte received 38 percent, double the 19 percent obtained by Poe.

Santiago got 15 percent, and Binay and Roxas each got 14 percent.

Among members of Class D, Duterte received 34, followed by Poe with 28 percent; Binay, 21 percent; Roxas, 12 percent; and Santiago, 5 percent.

Informed of the latest Pulse Asia survey, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo of the Liberal Party said Roxas’ rating had increased by 7 points.

Sought for comment, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian, spokesperson for Poe, said: “We have yet to see the survey. To comment on a survey that has not been made public by any group is unfair and inconclusive. The method, sample, etc., are factors that must be considered.”