With the conclusion of the 3rd round of presidential debates yesterday, Sunday, April 24, 2016, voter’s preference for Davao City Mayor and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Laban ng Bayan presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte remains solid.

In a DYRD “Inyong Alagad” phone in survey this morning, April 25, 2016, listeners were asked “After the end of the 3rd and final round of presidential debates last night where the five candidates presented their plans, platforms and their positions on various national issues, whom will you vote for president and why?”.

Fifty five callers responded to the question in the 45 minute survey and gave Duterte a score of 55% against Liberal Party presidential standard bearer Mar Roxas’ 42% and Binay’s 3%. There was no response for Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor Santiago.

The 3rd presidential debate was held at the Phinma University of Pangasinan in Dagupan city and covered issues on labor, health, worsening Metro Manila traffic, the China issue and peace and order in Mindanao.

In the latest Social Weather Stations survey conducted April 18-20, Duterte pulled away from the rest of the candidates.

According to the survey result, first published on BusinessWorld yesterday, April 24, Duterte garnered a voter preference rating of 33%.

Independent candidate Sen. Grace Poe’s rating was steady at 24% moving only a notch from 23% in the previous survey. Roxas (19%) overtook Vice President Jejomar Binay (14%) for the third spot. Both posted 18% and 20%, respectively in the previous survey.

With 14 more days before the May 9, 2016 national and local elections and the surging survey leads of Duterte, the much vaunted LP machinery in Bohol led by Governor Edgar Chatto, 1st district Congressman Rene Relampagos and 3rd district Representative Arthur Yap, the fate of Roxas, as shown in the local and national polls will be put to a severe stress test. (Chito M. Visarra)