Thursday, February 08, 2007
Opposition candidates lead senatorial polls in survey
IF THE elections were held today, the opposition bets would dominate the senatorial race, the January 25 to 29 survey of Pulse Asia showed.
The survey on senatorial voting preferences, which involved 1,200 respondents, also showed that Filipinos are naming eight of their senatorial bets for the May 14, 2007 elections. However, 12.2 percent are still undecided on their candidates or refuse to name them at this time.
The Pulse Asia survey showed that defeated opposition vice presidential bet Loren Legarda still leads the senatorial race with 46.6 percent of votes.
Legarda is followed by Senator Panfilo Lacson and Francis Pangilinan (both with 34.6 percent), Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano (31.7 percent) and former senator Vicente Sotto III (28.8 percent).
Pulse Asia said the five candidates "may be considered as sure winners" if elections were held today because their ranking is clearly within the winning circle.
The others in the winners' circle are Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. (26.4 percent), Senaor Ralph Recto (26 percent), Senator Joker Arroyo (25.8 percent), San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito-Estrada (25.7 percent), lawyer Aquilino Pimentel III (24.4 percent), Senator Edgardo Angara (24 percent), former senator Gregorio Honasan (23.3 percent), House Minority Leader Francis Escudero (23.2 percent), and Tarlac Representative Benigno Aquino III (22.5 percent).
Completing the top 20 candidates are former senator John Osmeña (17.9 percent), Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers (17.1 percent), actress Susan Roces (16.9 percent), former senator Francisco Tatad (16.3 percent), and presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor (14.3 percent).
The others are Muntinlupa Representative Rozzano Rufino Biazon (13.9 percent), actors Cesar Montano (12.8 percent) and Edu Manzano (12.4 percent), former senator Teresa Aquino-Oreta and Georgina de Venecia (both 11.5 percent), former defense secretary Orlando Mercado (11.3 percent), Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla (10.9 percent), former president Fidel Ramos (10.5 percent), Manila mayor Jose "Lito" Atienza Jr. and Bukidnon Representative Juan Miguel Zubiri (both 10.3 percent);
Former senator Heherson Alvarez Jr. (9.9), actor Richard Gomez (9.2 percent), economist Solita Monsod (8.8 percent), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando (8.5 percent, former senator Ernesto Herrera (8.2 percent).
Sonia Roco, widow of former senator and defeated presidential Raul Roco Sr., has 7.8 percent of votes, former Manila congressman Mark Jimenez has 6.1 percent, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano has six percent, and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay has 5.6 percent.
Other possible senatorial candidates: Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Singson (4.2 percent), Magdalo leader Antonio Trillanes IV (4.2 percent), House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles (4.1 percent), former education secretary Florencio Abad (3.2 percent), and Bukidnon Representative Nereus Acosta (1.5 percent).
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said surveys are "a good basis for finding out the probability of winning" but are not 100 percent accurate.
"The winnability factor is still how the people think of the candidates," Ermita said.
He said the administration is not bothered by the survey results "because what we are talking about here is what makes people win in the elections." He also said the stable economic, political, and peace and order situation in the country could be a "pulling power" in favor of administration bets. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (February 8, 2007 issue)
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