Showbiz personalities among top Senate bets in poll

MANILA, Philippines  — Six showbiz personalities were among the most preferred senatorial candidates in 2016, according to a recent Pulse Asia survey.

Noontime show host Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto topped the list with 72.6 percent, while boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, himself hosted TV shows and starred in films, placed eighth with 50.2 percent of respondents' votes.

READ: Pulse: Sotto, Lacson remain top Senate bets

Thirteenth in the list is former actor Manila Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso with 30.4 percent, while renowned TV host Edu Manzano got 22.2 percent. Action star and former Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid landed seventeenth with 20.4 percent.

After her controversial interview with Karen Davila on public affairs program “Headstart,” Parañaque Councilor Alma Moreno landed on the nineteenth spot with 15.4 percent.

Meanwhile, the husbands of Vilma Santos and Sharon Cuneta were also on the top 20 list of senatorial bets.

Sen. Ralph Recto earned the third spot with 62.9 percent, while Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan placed fourth with 58 percent.

Other senatorial hopefuls who topped the nationwide survey are former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senate President Franklin Drilon. — Joyce Jimenez