Sotto, Lacson, Marcos lead senatorial survey

MANILA, Philippines - Incumbent and former members of Congress are likely to win Senate seats in next year’s elections, results of the latest Pulse Asia survey showed yesterday.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III topped the poll, taken from Sept. 8 to 14, with 63.6 percent voter preference.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson landed in second place with 59.3 percent. Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. occupied third spot with 54.9 percent.

In fourth to sixth places were Senate President Franklin Drilon, former senator Francis Pangilinan and Sen. Ralph Recto with 48.2 percent, 46.6 percent and 45.4 percent, respectively.

Former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri took seventh to ninth places with 41.4 percent, followed by boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao with 39.6 percent, obtaining a ranking of seventh to 11th places.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III received 38.7 percent and was ranked seventh to 13th.

Former senator Richard Gordon and Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar were ranked eighth to 14th with 36.8 percent and 35.8 percent, respectively.

Former senator Jamby Madrigal and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima registered the same score of 35.2 percent, taking the ninth to 14th places.

Taguig City Rep. Lino Edgardo Cayetano obtained 34.2 percent and was ranked 10th to 15th.

Pulse Asia said a majority of the voters have a complete senatorial slate for the 2016 elections.