Political phenomenon

 Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and his runningmate Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano have emerged as the biggest gainers in the latest Pulse Asia survey of voters based in the National Capital Region (NCR) for the period Nov 11-12, 2015.

If even residents of Metro Manila, the seat of political and economic power, are now willing to elect Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the next President, then the other presidential bets have every reason to be worried as to the outcome of the 2016 polls.

A survey conducted by Pulse Asia Research Inc. two weeks ago—that is, at a time when Duterte had not made up his mind about running— showed that one in every three voters (34 percent) in Metro Manila said he or she would vote for Duterte if elections were held then.

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

Results of a 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.

What appears to be going  for Duterte is his tough stance against crime in Davao City. With rampant criminality, especially in Metro Manila, no wonder that  city residents prefer someone who will really go after criminals with hammer and tongs.

What is remarkable in the latest survey is that Duterte's support in Metro Manila comes from a broad section of the population, from the rich  to the middle class to the poor.  

Will this survey result hold in the coming months? That remains to be seen.  But if voter preference for Duterte continues, this is undeniable proof that Filipinos are as mad as hell against crime and want someone in charge who will give criminals the punishment they deserve.