Grace Poe still top Senate bet; Sara Duterte, Imee Marcos in

MANILA, Philippines — If the midterm elections were held today, 17 individuals led by re-electionist Sen. Grace Poe have a statistical chance of winning a slot in the so-called Magic 12, according to survey firm Pulse Asia.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 1 to 7 with the results released Friday, showed five women topping the list, followed by incumbent and former senators.

Some personalities identified with the administration are also well within the top 12, including Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos in fifth and eighth places, respectively.

Following Poe are re-electionist Sen. Cynthia Villar, former senator and Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano and re-electionist Sen. Nancy Binay.

Re-electionist Sen. Sonny Angara and former senator Jinggoy Estrada trail Duterte at sixth and seventh places, respectively.

Meanwhile, statistically tied with Marcos are re-electionist Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and former senator Lito Lapid.

Rounding up the Magic 12 are former senator Sergio Osmeña III and former senator, interior and local government secretary and presidential hopeful Manuel Roxas II.

Due to small differences on the voting preference results, Pulse Asia said five other personalities are statistically tied with Roxas and have chances of making it to the Magic 12.

They include actor and Duterte administration supporter Robin Padilla, detained former senator Ramon Revilla Jr., media personality Ramon Tulfo, former Philippine National Police chief and incumbent Bureau of Corrections director general Ronald dela Rosa and re-electionist Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito.

Re-electionist Sen. Benigno Paolo Aquino IV is trailing behind broadcaster Ted Failon and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista at 20th place.

Following Aquino is his cousin media personality Kris Aquino, former senator Teofisto Guingona III and former environment secretary Gina Lopez.

Special assistant to the president Christopher Go, who has said he is not interested to run despite the appearance of his name and face in tarpaulins at various projects, is at 24th place – two notches higher than his 26th place in the Pulse survey last June.

He is followed by Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, former president and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, presidential assistant for political affairs Francis Tolentino, Social Welfare Undersecretary Isko Moreno and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles.

Trailing behind are other personalities being touted as possible senatorial candidates next year, including singer Freddie Aguilar, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr., entertainment personality Agot Isidro, former broadcaster Jiggy Manicad, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, former interior and local government secretary Rafael Alunan, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, among others.

The survey had a sample of 1,800 respondents and an error margin of +/- two percent.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for next year’s midterm polls is scheduled on Oct. 11 to 17.