Reelectionists, ex-senators still lead Senate race – Laylo survey

MANILA, Philippines – Old names are still the front runners in the 2016 senatorial race, according to The Standard Poll conducted by Laylo Research Strategies from March 26 to April 1.

Senator Vicente Sotto III, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) who is running under the Poe-Escudero slate, remains the survey leader with 51% of the respondents saying they would vote for him.

Meanwhile, former senator Francis Pangilinan (45%), as well as current senators Ralph Recto (43%) and Franklin Drilon (43%) share the 2nd to 4th spots. Pangilinan, Recto, and Drilon are all from the ruling Liberal Party (LP). (READ: Ruling coalition completes 12-person Senate slate)

Other candidates within the winning circle include former senators Panfilo Lacson (39%) and Juan Miguel Zubiri (37%), former Technical Education Skills and Development Authority chief Joel Villanueva (37%), former PhilHealth director and former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros (36%), and Valenzuela Representative Sherwin Gatchalian (35%). They share the 5th to 9th spots.

All ranking 10th to 15th are Senator Teofisto Guingona III (31%), Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez (31%), former senator Richard Gordon (31%), former justice secretary Leila de Lima (30%), world boxing champion and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao (29%), and Senator Sergio Osmeña III (28%).

Meanwhile, in the presidential race, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Grace Poe are statistically tied for the top spot.

Among the vice presidential candidates, Senator Francis Escudero and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr share first place. Escudero, however, is on a gradual downward trend, based on the 3 surveys released by The Standard so far.

The Standard Poll covered 3,000 respondents, all of whom are registered voters. The poll was conducted in 79 provinces and 40 highly urbanized cities, including all cities in Metro Manila. It had a nationwide error margin of ±1.8%. – Rappler.com