MANILA, Philippines – Following the climb in survey numbers of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Liberal Party (LP) Acting President and Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the rise was “expected.”

On Monday, September 29, Abaya told Rappler the 6-point rise in Roxas’ numbers is unsurprising.

“It’s an expected consequence of sticking to Daang Matuwid (the straight and narrow path),” he told Rappler in a text message, referring to the ruling LP’s anti-corruption slogan.

Abaya also said he expects Roxas’ numbers to continue to rise as the administration delivers. (READ: Why there’s no giving up on Mar Roxas)

“The more the people realize the importance of keeping to the Daang Matuwid, the surveys will continue to get better,” he said.

In a Pulse Asia nationwide survey conducted September 8-15 on the May 2016 polls released also on Monday, Roxas, the presumptive administration standard-bearer, saw his approval ratings nearly double. From 7% in June, 13% of voters said they will vote him for president in the latest poll.

Roxas is a distant second to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who enjoys the support of 31% of the respondents. Binay’s lead however declined by a significant 10 percentage points, amid corruption allegations against him in relation to an overpriced Makati government building during his time as the city’s mayor.

Roxas lost to Binay in the 2010 elections, after he gave up his presidential bid to now President Benigno Aquino III.

Aquino’s spokesperson meanwhile was mum on Roxas’ rise in the survey.

“To all those asking on the Pulse Asia survey on the numbers of VP Binay and Secretary Mar, we will beg your indulgence and leave the analysis of the survey to the political parties, their spokespersons, and to political analysts,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

“While surveys on presidentiables is a matter of keen interest to the public, we remain committed on the Pesident’s principles on good governance and the administration continues to attend to the concerns of our countrymen.”

Binay ‘unraveling’

Abaya’s reaction is consistent with the LP’s position that the public will seek continuity and look to Aquino for whom he will endorse, as long as the administration continues its reforms. (READ: How do you solve a problem like Mar Roxas?)

In an interview with LP stalwart and Budget Secretary Butch Abad earlier this month, Abad told Rappler, “We have to push on; if we stay the course I think people will continue to believe.”

He also said he expected a drop in Binay’s surveys following the Makati building controversy.

“For the most part he has been identified with this administration, that’s why the issue of corruption was not an issue identified with him. But now, well, things are unraveling. We don’t know where that is going to go but definitely things are unraveling,” he said.

Abad also said Binay’s numbers would likely suffer once Aquino endorses his candidate.

“The Vice President is the guy I think who really wants this thing (the elections) tomorrow because he thinks he will win,” he said. “But you can only go down [with your numbers]. You cannot got further up because once the president makes the choice, [it will hurt him].”

He added, “There’s still more downside to come while we still have more upsides to come.”

Aquino has yet to pick his successor but on September 12, he distanced himself from Binay for the first time in a gathering of allies in Malacañang.

“Of course, those who oppose us will push for their own candidate. And to those who are not with us today because their principles are inherently opposed to ours: Is it not also natural for them to oppose everything that we have already done?” he said.

Binay, who has since formed his own political party for 2016, was not invited to the event.

Still ‘fluid’

Meanwhile, Ronald Llamas, political adviser to the President and not a member of the LP, was more cautious regarding Roxas’ rise. 

“Well, as I’ve said before, very fluid pa ang political landscape. A lot of things can still happen between now and 2016,” he said.

Llamas did agree however, that the results are “very significant” in relation to Binay.

“It’s definitely a result of the Senate investigation on alleged corruption of the vice president and his family,” he said.

“Corruption will still be a dominant issue going into 2016. If the vice president will be unable to confront these issues head on and convincingly, his ratings may continue to unravel.”  – Rappler.com