Sotto, Lacson still lead senatorial poll

MANILA, Philippines – No different from its November 2014 survey, Pulse Asia’s March 1-7, 2015, results also showed Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and former Rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo “Ping” Lacson leading the pack of senatorial candidates preferred by voters.

Sotto and Lacson, who each registered a high 97% awareness rating, ranked first and second among the choices of respondents. Sotto got a 59.3% rating compared to Lacson’s 58.3%.

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr ranked 3rd-6th, with a 47.2% rating.

Tied at slots 3-7 were 3 Liberal Party members: former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan with 44.7%, Senate President Franklin Drilon with 44.1%, and Senator Ralph Recto with 43.9%.

Pangilinan was appointed Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization after his senatorial term ended in 2013.

Former Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who served until 2011, took slots 4-10 with 40.2%. He resigned after he was accused of cheating in the 2007 elections. He ran for the Senate again in 2013 but placed 14^th.

Three more possible senatorial candidates were tied for slots 7-12: Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Senator Sergio Osmeña III, both tied with 36%, and former Senator Dick Gordon with 35.5%.

Two other possible senatorial candidates that have a chance of winning are former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros, who garnered 33.1% just like former Senator Jamby Madrigal. Both women occupy slots 8-15, but the survey’s 3-point error margin still gives them a chance in the polls.

The same goes for Liberal Party Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III (29.8%), Lino Edgardo Cayetano (29.7%), and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao (29.5%). All 3 ranked 11th-17th in the survey.

Incumbent senators Marcos, Guingona, and Osmeña can seek a second term in 2016. Former senators Gordon and Madrigal, meanwhile, both ran in 2013 and lost.

Thirty-eight other individuals were listed in the senatorial preferences list, including those with an awareness rating of over 90%: Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno (91%), Cavite 2nd District Representative Lani Mercado Revilla (94%), and actor Dingdong Dantes (95%). The 3, however, fell outside of the Magic 12. – Chay Hofileña/Rappler.com