Magsaysay, 'kabayan' top ARO's 2001 bets

Re-electionist Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and broadcast journalist Noli "kabayan" de Castro topped the latest survey conducted by the Asia Research Organization (ARO) on the people's preferences for the Senate race in May 2001.

The survey, conducted on March 7-12 with 1,200 respondents nationwide, included 10 senators, six Cabinet members, six congressmen including Speaker Manuel Villar, five broadcasters, a former senator, a mayor and a former Cabinet member.

Magsaysay and De Castro were the choice of 95 percent of the respondents. Magsaysay also topped the survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations that was released last week.

Rounding up the top 12 choices for the Senate are: re-electionist Sen. Serge Osmeña and broadcaster Korina Sanchez, tied for third and fourth, 93 percent; re-electionist Senators Franklin Drilon and Juan Flavier, and Sen. Raul Roco, joint fifth to seventh, 92 percent; Press Secretary Dong Puno, eighth, 91 percent; Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara and broadcaster Ted Failon, joint ninth and 10th, 90 percent; Sen. Nikki Coseteng, 11th, 89 percent; and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim, 12th, 87 percent.

The survey group did not explain why it included in the list Roco and Coseteng who are on their second term and barred from running for re-election in 2001. Also included in the list is two-term Sen. Francisco Tatad, who placed 16th, with 83 percent.

Re-electionist Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago who placed second to Magsaysay in the SWS survey did not fare so well in the ARO survey, placing No. 20 with 75 percent, a notch below re-electionist Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile who got 79 percent.

Among the re-electionist senators, Gregorio Honasan got the lowest preference 74 percent. He tied for 21st to 23rd with San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada and former Sen. Heherson Alvarez.

Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo is 13th with 83 percent, while Speaker Manuel Villar is 27th with 64 percent. Former Sen. Ernesto Herrera is No. 12 with 85 percent and Ambassador Ernesto Maceda, 15th with 81 percent.

Roco, however, questioned the reliability of the ARO survey.

"In 1995, ARO placed me at No. 18. I said I would cut my finger if that survey is proven true," Roco said.

He went on to place second only to now Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 1995 senatorial elections. --