Poe leads Pulse Asia poll on senatorial bets

SENATOR Grace Poe-Llamanzares topped a list of probable May 2019 senatorial candidates reported by Pulse Asia’s latest Ulat ng Bayan survey released on Monday.

Responding to the survey, Ms. Poe-Llamanzares told reporters she was “grateful for the trust of our

kababayan (countrymen.).” The incumbent senator (67.4%) was followed by former senator and currently Taguig City Congresswoman Pia S. Cayetano (55.7%), and fellow senatorial reelectionist Cynthia A. Villar (50.1%).

Ranking fourth to 12th place are Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (46.2%), Senator Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, Jr. (41.9%), former senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada, Jr. (37.9%), Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa (37.7%), Senator Aquilino “Koko” L. Pimentel III (37.7%), Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay (37.1%), former senators Sergio “Serge” DLR. Osmeña III (36.6%) and Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid (36.2%), Senator Joseph “JV” G. Ejercito (35.6%), Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV (32.1%), and Ilocos Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos (29.9%).

In a statement, Mr. Aquino, being the only oppositionist in the Top 12, said, “Kailangan pa nating patibayin ang boses ng oposisyon sa Senado (We need to strengthen the voice of the opposition in the Senate).”

The survey results also noted “a small majority of Filipinos (55%) already have a complete slate for the senatorial race.”

Aside from his daughter, Ms. Duterte-Carpio, and Mr. Dela Rosa, other close aides of President Rodrigo R. Duterte also made it to the tail end of the survey results, particularly Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” T. Go (9.9%) and Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. (7.9%).

When sought for comment, Mr. Roque told reporters, “Wala naman pong eleksiyon. Lahat po kami ay nakatutok lang sa trabaho ngayon. So wala naman

pong ibig sabihin iyon sa amin (It is still not the election period. We are all focused on our work right now. So this does not have any meaning for us).”

According to Pulse Asia, the survey was conducted June 15-21, using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 registered voters 18-years old and above with a +2% margin of error at the 95% confidence level.