Villar tops latest Pulse survey
Reelectionist Sen. Cynthia Villar has taken the sole lead in the latest Pulse Asia survey conducted a week before the midterm polls tomorrow.
The survey, conducted from May 3 to 6 with the results released Saturday, showed Villar leading 15 candidates who have statistical chances of winning one of the 12 Senate seats up for grabs in this year’s elections.
The results revealed that eight candidates are assured of a Senate seat based on the preference vote of 1,800 respondents polled by the survey firm.
The remaining seven candidates are scrambling for the final four slots.
Villar overtook fellow reelectionist Sen. Grace Poe with
55.9 percent of the 1,800 respondents saying they would vote for her.
Poe, consistent frontrunner in previous surveys, fell to second to third places with 47.7 percent.
They were followed by Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano at second to fourth places with 45 percent, former special assistant to the president Christopher Go at third to seventh place with 42 percent and former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. at fourth to eighth places with 39.5 percent.
Tied at fourth to ninth places were former senator Lito Lapid with 38.5 percent and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa with 37.9 percent.
Re-electionist Sen. Sonny Angara was at fifth to 10th places with 36.3 percent.
Meanwhile, among the seven who are vying for the final four slots were Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos at sixth to 14th places with 34.1 percent and re-electionist Sen. Nancy Binay at eighth to 15th places with 32.8 percent.
Tied at ninth to 15th places were re-electionist Sen. Koko Pimentel with 31.7 percent, re-electionist Sen. JV Ejercito with 31.2 percent, former senator Jinggoy Estrada with 30.8 percent and re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino with 30.6 percent. At 10th to 15th places was former presidential adviser Francis Tolentino with 28.9 percent.
Outside of those with statistical chances of winning a seat were former senators Serge Osmeña (16th to 17th, 23.3 percent), Manuel Roxas II (16th to 17th, 21.1 percent) and Juan Ponce Enrile (18th to 19th, 16.3 percent).
They were followed by Maguindanao Rep. Dong Mangudadatu, former broadcaster Jiggy Manicad, singer Freddie Aguilar, doctor Willie Ong, former lawmaker Neri Colmenares, election lawyer Romy Macalintal, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, rights advocate Samira Gutoc, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Faisal Mangondato, former lawmaker Erin Tañada and lawyer Larry Gadon.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he was happy seven re-electionist senators were doing good based on the survey.
Based on his experience, he said candidates with declining ranking in surveys in the final stretch – even if they started strong – are unlikely to make it come election day.