Go overtakes Tulfo in Pulse senatorial survey

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go is leading the latest Pulse Asia survey for the May midterm elections.

Based on the Feb. 20 to 26 survey, Go obtained the support of 58.1 percent of respondents, statistically tied with ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, who had the support of 56.6 percent.

Former Senate president Vicente Sotto III gained the support of 49 percent of respondents, followed by Sen. Bong Revilla (49 percent), Sen. Ronald dela Rosa (44.3 percent), television host Willie Revillame (42.3 percent), media personality Ben Tulfo (40.7 percent), former senator Manny Pacquiao (39.9 percent), Sen. Lito Lapid (39.4 percent), outgoing Makati Mayor Abby Binay (37.6 percent), Sen. Pia Cayetano (37.5 percent) and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar (36.6 percent).

Outside the so-called Magic 12, but within statistical chances of winning, were former senator Panfilo Lacson (35.8 percent), Sen. Imee Marcos (30.9 percent), former senators Bam Aquino (26.4 percent) and Francis Pangilinan (25 percent), former interior secretary Benhur Abalos (23 percent), actor Phillip Salvador (20.7 percent), former senator Gregorio Honasan (19.7 percent) and Sen. Francis Tolentino (18 percent).

The survey was conducted after the start of the campaign period and before recent developments, such as the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Go and Dela Rosa are close allies of Duterte running under his political party, PDP-Laban.

Nine candidates are part of the administration slate of President Marcos: Erwin Tulfo, Sotto, Revilla, Pacquiao, Lapid, Binay, Cayetano, Villar and Lacson.

Revillame and Ben Tulfo are independent candidates.

In a statement, Go expressed gratitude to Filipinos for their trust and support.

“But I am so sad right now because of what is happening in our country. It feels like I have lost a father,” he said, in apparent reference to Duterte’s arrest.