MANILA, Philippines — Re-electionist Sen. Grace Poe remains the most preferred senatorial bet in the upcoming midterm elections, according to the latest survey by Pulse Asia.
The survey, conducted from Jan. 26 to 31 with the results released Friday, showed Poe retaining her lead with 74.9 percent of 1,800 respondents saying they would vote for her.
Fellow re-electionist Sen. Cynthia Villar also kept second spot with 60.5 percent. Sharing third to six spots were former senators Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano and actor Lito Lapid, each with 53.3 percent.
They were followed by re-electionist Sens. Nancy Binay at third to seventh spot with 50.1 percent and Sonny Angara at third to ninth spot with 48.8 percent.
Former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III, whom the Commission on Elections recently declared eligible for re-election, was at fifth to 11th places with 45.5 percent.
He was followed by Bong Go and former senator Jinggoy Estrada, who shared the sixth to 12th spots with 44.7 percent and 44.3 percent, respectively.
Former senator and presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II was at seventh to 14th places with 41.8 percent, followed by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos at seventh to 15th spots with 41.2 percent.
Former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. ranked eight to 15th places with 40.2 percent, followed by re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino and former senator Serge Osmeña, who shared the 10th to 15th slots with 38.5 percent and 37.7 percent, respectively.
Completing the list of 15 candidates with statistical chance of making it to the Magic 12 if elections are held today was former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa at 11th to 16th places with 36.9 percent.
Ejercito, who ranked ninth to 16th in Pulse’s December survey, dropped to 15th to 16th spots with 32.8 percent.
Tied at 17th to 18th places are former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile with 23.3 percent and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman and Duterte political adviser Francis Tolentino with 21.4 percent.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, who already dropped out of the race, ranked 19th to 23rd with 11 percent.
Except for Roxas and Aquino, the bulk of the candidates identified with the opposition continue to lag in the recent survey despite a slight increase in the number of people who said they would vote for them.
Former deputy speaker and Quezon representative Erin Tañada ranked 24th to 29th, followed by former Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Colmenares at 24th to 29th, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno at 24th to 31st and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal 24th to 32nd.
Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano placed 27th to 34th, while peace advocate Samira Gutoc and former solicitor general Florin Hilbay placed 32nd to 48th and 33rd to 53rd, respectively.
The survey also found that 46 percent of the respondents already have 12 candidates whom they would vote for, up from 43 percent in December. It had an error margin of +/-2.3 percent.