Impeachment players top senatorial survey

Lawmakers who played pivotal roles in the aborted impeachment trial of deposed President Joseph Estrada could win seats in the Senate if elections were held today.

Results of a survey conducted by Data Advisors Inc. indicated that six lawmakers who figured prominently in the impeachment proceedings topped the list of probable senatorial candidates.

The survey was conducted on Jan. 18, when the EDSA people power 2 revolution began to swell. The survey had 1,738 respondents with an error margin of 2.8 percent.

Of the six lawmakers, two of them were members of the House prosecution panel – Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo and Leyte Rep. Sergio Apostol. Arroyo came in tied at second with a rating of 72 percent while Apostol was sixth with 56 percent.

The other four who made it to the top six of the survey served as senator-judges in the impeachment trial. Topping them all was Sen. Juan Flavier with a rating of 74 percent.

Sen. Franklin Drilon came in also at second with a 72 percent rating. He was followed by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. with a rating of 64 percent. Sen. Sergio Osmeña III tied with Apostol at sixth with a 56 percent rating.

Lawyer Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan was in fifth place with a rating of 60 percent.

According to Arturo Valenzuela, senior research fellow of data advisors, the impeachment trial caused people to favor lawmakers who were perceived to be fair and impartial.

"Riding high on the effects of the aborted impeachment, the probable candidates of the new administration appear headed for a sweep," he said.

However, the ratings of re-electionist Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan dropped as a result of their pro-Estrada stance.

Santiago came in 21st with 11 percent, Enrile 17th with 18 percent, while Honasan was 16th with 20 percent.