Senator Grace Poe led the latest pre-election poll for the upcoming senatorial race in May next year, taking a commanding lead in a women-dominated field.
The Pulse Asia poll, conducted from September 1-7 among 1,800 Filipinos nationwide, showed that Poe enjoyed 98% awareness among respondents, with 70.1% saying they would vote for the re-electionist senator.
Sen. Cynthia Villar — the richest member of the Senate and wife of real estate tycoon and former Senate president Manuel “Manny” Villar — climbed to second spot after garnering a 98% awareness level and 57.7% voter preference.
Villar dislodged former senator and Taguig representative Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano, who ranked third in the latest opinion survey at 54.4%.Senator Nancy Binay, the new president of the United Nationalist Alliance, followed with 50.6% of respondents likely to vote for her in the next year’s elections.
Completing the top half of the probable winners were Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (39.5%, placing fifth to sixth), Sen.
Edgardo “Sonny” Angara Jr (37.1%, fifth to seventh places), and former senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada (34.6%, sixth to 10th places).Sharing seventh to 11th places were Ilocos Gov. Imee Marcos (32.6%), Sen.
Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd (32.4%), and former senator Manuel Mercado “Lito” Lapid (32.2%). Former senator Sergio Osmena was in eighth to 17th places with voter preference of 29.8%. Completing the list of probable winners were six personalities who were tied for the 11th to 17th places, namely former senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd (27.7%), actor Robin Padilla (27.4%), former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr (27.4%), columnist Ramon Tulfo (27%), Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (27%), and Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito (26.7%). The list represents individuals who “would have a statistical chance of winning” the senatorial elections, Pulse Asia said. They led in a roster of 66 probable candidates for the May 2019 senatorial elections, based on the survey held from September 1 to 7.
Poe yesterday said it was “uplifting” that women were being recognised as effective, decisive and compassionate leaders.
“We are humbled and grateful for the continued support of our people,” said Poe, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services. “However, the more important numbers which should concern us today are inflation, prices of goods, employment, fuel prices, and the damage caused by typhoon Ompong.
Let us focus on clear and present challenges,” she said.
Incumbent Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino was bumped off the list of front runners as he dropped to the 18th to 23rd bracket, five spots below his top 13 finish in Pulse Asia’s July survey.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr, both said to be eyeing Senate seats, ranked between the 24th and 35th places, along with House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Out of those surveyed, 3.6% “do not support any of the probable senatorial bets included in this survey probe, refuse to name their preferred senatorial candidates, or still do not know whom they will vote for” in next year’s polls, Pulse Asia said. With about a month to go before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2019 polls and some eight months before the actual elections, 49% of Filipinos already have a complete line-up for the Senate.
Most of those in Class D or the “masa” (51%), Metro Manila (53%), and Mindanao (58%), named 12 of their preferred senatorial candidates for May 2019.
“Big pluralities to near majorities” in Class E or the poorest (43%), Class ABC or the upper-to-middle class (44%), the rest of Luzon (44%), and Visayas (48%) also named 12 preferred candidates. Filipinos also expressed support for an average of nine and a median of 11 senatorial bets, out of a maximum of 12 candidates, Pulse said.
The nationwide survey’s error margin was placed at + or — 2% at the 95% confidence level.
For the geographic areas, subnational estimates’ error margins at the 95% confidence level were: + or – 6% for Metro Manila, + or – 3% for the rest of Luzon, and + or – 5% for each of Visayas and Mindanao.
GULF TIMES
