Poe gains big, Villar plunges in latest survey

MANILA, Philippines - Senatorial candidate Grace Poe made the biggest leap ahead of the midterm elections while former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar fell from the 'Magic 12' in the latest nationwide survey conducted by polling firm StratPOLLS.

Poe, who runs independently but under the administration's coalition ticket, landed at the third spot with a projected 63-percent share of the nationwide vote. StratPOLLS said this makes her 'virtually tied' at the second spot currently occupied by incumbent Sen. Francis Escudero, who got a 63.2-percent share.

The nationwide survey was conducted on 1,200 respondents from March 8 to 13.

Poe occupied the 17th spot in the same survey conducted on February with a 33-percent vote share. The February survey, meanwhile, was conducted only on residents of Metro Manila.

"Poe was the better beneficiary of the Erap endorsements. The core votes of the late FPJ are still out there for her taking," the polling firm said. Former President Joseph Estrada has been endorsing his son, JV Ejercito Estrada, along with Poe.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Villar, who previously ranked 7th-8th with a 59-percent vote share, suffered the biggest loss after landing in the 13th spot with a smaller 49.1-percent share.

The polling firm attributed Villar's slippage to her statement against Filipino nurses, saying that nurses in the Philippines don't need to be as skilled because they only want to be room nurses Villar has since apologized for the statement.

Topping the list of senatorial bets is incumbent Sen. Loren Legarda, whom the polling firm tagged as a sure winner with a 75.2-percent vote share. Legarda's "consistent and very strong showing in all regional areas of the country" makes her apparently headed for the top post in the elections, StratPOLLS said.

"The highest ranked opposition candidate was Nancy Binay on number four with 59.7 percent followed on sixth position by JV Ejercito with 59 percent. Sharing Nos. 7-8 were Enrile and Trillanes, 54.7 apiece. Ninth was Sonny Angara with 54 percent, 10th was Migz Zubiri with 52 percent; on 11th was Bam Aquino with 50 percent and number 12 was Senator Koko Pimentel with 49.4 percent," the polling firm said.

Below is a table from StratPOLLS showing the full list of senatorial candidates and their respective rankings in the March survey.