Rappler polls: Duterte consistent winner, Binay consistent loser

MANILA, Philippines – There was one consistent winner and loser in the Cagayan de Oro presidential debate on Sunday, February 21, as selected by social media users who voted in Rappler’s polls.

For all 3 rounds, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte emerged the top pick for Rappler readers and netizens. His consistent first place finish put him way ahead of his competitors, getting a wide margin over other presidential bets.

In Round 1, for instance, Duterte’s lead over second placer Senator Miriam Santiago was 296. In Round 2, Duterte had a 451-vote lead over second placer former interior secretary Manuel Roxas II. (READ: On social media, Duterte wins Round 1 of the debate)

While Duterte consistently ranked number one, the second placer alternated between Santiago and Roxas. The feisty senator ranked number 2 in the first round, while the Liberal Party standard-bearer was second placer in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

For the closing statements, Santiago once again took 2nd place, as against Duterte’s 1,000-vote top finish.

Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay – who has been a consistent frontrunner in presidential preference surveys conducted by pollsters – consistently ranked 5th in all 4 Rappler polls.

He also consistently got double-digit figures, with his highest only at 27 votes for his closing statement.

Duterte’s emphasis on a corruption-free, crime-free Philippines got him the nod of netizens, who said the tough-talking mayor had the best closing statement in the debate. (READ: 2016 bets on why they should be president)

In his final remarks, Duterte again reiterated his promise to clean up the Philippines within months if he is elected president.

In the final Rappler poll, Duterte got 1,000 votes (59.14%) out of the total 1,691 votes.

He had a 728-vote margin ahead of Santiago, who got 272 votes (16.09%). Roxas placed 3rd, with 263 votes (15.55%), followed by Senator Grace Poe with 129 votes (7.63%) and Binay with 27 votes (1.6%).

The chart below shows the flow of Twitter discussion from 5 pm to 8 pm. At around 6:30 pm, the conversation generated roughly 15,000 tweets per minute.

Meanwhile, Poe took 2 of 3 rounds based on calls made by Rappler editors. 

Poe took Round 2, which focused on poverty and development, and Round 3, which tackled Mindanao peace and development, illegal drugs, political dynasties, the Philippines’ row with China, and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between Manila and Washington.

Meanwhile, Roxas took Round 1, where he went on the offensive against his rivals on issues ranging from wealth, corruption, experience in government, health, morality, and Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The debate – the first in a series being mounted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its media partners – was organized by GMA-7 and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. – Rappler.com

Editors’ picks per round

• PiliPinas 2016 Debate: Round 1 goes to Mar Roxas
• PiliPinas 2016 Debate: Round 2 goes to Grace Poe
• PiliPinas 2016 Debate: Round 3 goes to Grace Poe

Netizens’ picks per round

• On social media, Duterte wins Round 1 of the debate
• Duterte takes Round 2, Roxas is runner-up for netizens
• Consistent winner: Netizens say Duterte takes 3rd round of debate