Noli still No. 1 in survey

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Noli de Castro remains the top choice among Filipinos to succeed President Arroyo in 2010, according to a recent Pulse Asia survey.

Pulse Asia’s October 2008 survey showed an 18 percent support for De Castro’s presidential bid.

Former Senate president Manuel Villar and former President Joseph Estrada tied in second place with 17 percent each, followed by Senators Francis Escudero, 15 percent and Loren Legarda, 13 percent.

“Filipinos still do not have a clear choice for president in the May 2010 elections with five probable contenders registering almost the same overall voter preferences (13 to 18 percent),” Pulse Asia said in the survey conducted from Oct. 14 to 27.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson was sixth with seven percent, followed by Sen. Manuel Roxas II with six percent.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando and television evangelist Eduardo “Eddie” Villanueva got one percent each.

But while De Castro remains on top, his position is four percentage points lower than in July 2008.

Estrada’s standing represents a one percentage point improvement while Villar gained five percentage points. Lacson and Roxas each improved by two points, Pulse Asia said.

In Metro Manila, the leading bet is Escudero with 22 percent while in Mindanao, the clear choice is Estrada, with 30 percent, Pulse Asia said.

Those belonging to the poorest class E also favor Estrada (27 percent).

Class ABC favors Villar and Escudero at 19 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

In the most numerous class D, De Castro and Villar each got 18 percent, and Escudero got 17 percent.