Poe still tops Senate race — Pulse

Re-electionist Sen. Grace Poe remains the most preferred senatorial bet in the upcoming midterm elections, according to the latest survey by Pulse Asia.

Former special assistant to the president Bong Go jumped eight spots and eased out re-electionist Sen. JV Ejercito from the top 15 candidates with statistical chance of being in the Magic 12.

The survey, conducted from Jan. 26 to 31 with the results released Friday, showed Poe retaining her lead with 74.9 percent of 1,800 respondents saying they would vote for her.

Fellow re-electionist Sen. Cynthia Villar also kept second spot with 60.5 percent. Sharing third to six spots were former senators Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano and actor Lito Lapid, each with 53.3 percent.

They were followed by re-electionist Sens. Nancy Binay at third to seventh spot with 50.1 percent and Sonny Angara at third to ninth spot with 48.8 percent.

Former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III, whom the Commission on Elections recently declared eligible for re-election, was at fifth to 11th places with 45.5 percent.

He was followed by Go and former senator Jinggoy Estrada, who shared the sixth to 12th spots with 44.7 percent and 44.3 percent, respectively.

Former senator and presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II was at seventh to 14th places with 41.8 percent, followed by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos at seventh to 15th spots with 41.2 percent.

Former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. ranked eight to 15th places with 40.2 percent, followed by re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino and former senator Serge Osmeña, who shared the 10th to 15th slots with 38.5 percent and 37.7 percent, respectively.

Completing the list of 15 candidates with statistical chance of making it to the Magic 12 if elections are held today was former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa at 11th to 16th places with 36.9 percent.

Ejercito, who ranked ninth to 16th in Pulse’s December survey, dropped to 15th to 16th spots with 32.8 percent.

Tied at 17th to 18th places are former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile with 23.3 percent and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman and Duterte political adviser Francis Tolentino with 21.4 percent.

Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who already dropped out of the race, ranked 19th to 23rd with 11 percent.

Except for Roxas and Aquino, the bulk of the candidates identified with the opposition continue to lag in the recent survey despite a slight increase in the number of people who said they would vote for them.

Former deputy speaker and Quezon representative Erin Tañada ranked 24th to 29th, followed by former Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Colmenares at 24th to 29th, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno at 24th to 31st and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal 24th to 32nd.

Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano placed 27th to 34th, while peace advocate Samira Gutoc and former solicitor general Florin Hilbay placed 32nd to 48th and 33rd to 53rd, respectively.

The survey also found that 46 percent of the respondents already have 12 candidates whom they would vote for, up from 43 percent in December. It had an error margin of +/-2.3 percent.

Go’s survey results

For being able to sustain his strong showing in surveys, Go yesterday thanked his supporters.

“Once more, I thank my supporters who believe in my capability and honesty to serve the Filipino people. It is so heartwarming that you trust me, ”Go said in Filipino.

He also thanked President Duterte who had vouched for his integrity during the ruling party PDP-Laban’s proclamation and kickoff rally in Bulacan on Thursday.

“He is honest. He just wants to serve and work,” the President said, referring to his former special assistant.

“The President’s trust is a big thing to me,” Go said, noting that most Filipinos continue to trust Duterte.

“Because of people’s trust in the President who is running the government the right way, they try hard to support him and those he is supporting to continue real transformation in the country,” Go said.

He said the survey results inspire him to work even harder to present his advocacy to serve the people.

He also reiterated his earlier call for his supporters to follow election rules and promote fair and honest elections.

“I’m begging you, let us follow the Comelec rules,” Go said.

He made the appeal amid accusations his supporters have violated Comelec regulations in their efforts to promote his candidacy.

“Lalaban po tayo ng patas at naaayon sa batas (We will fight fairly and according to the rule of law),” Go said, noting that clean and honest elections have always been the trademark of Duterte since his stint as mayor of Davao City.