Opposition figures still lead Senate race - PulseAsia poll

Former Sen. Loren Legarda continues to lead all contenders for the upcoming Senate race that still appears to be an opposition-dominated election, survey firm Pulse Asia Inc. said Wednesday. In its latest survey, Pulse Asia reported that Legarda gained 46.6% of the nods from the 1,200 survey respondents around the country. Securing a "distant second place" were Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, who both gained 34.6%. They were followed by Deputy Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano (31.7%), who is fighting off suspension at the House of Representatives. The only administration candidate who made the top five was former Vicente Sotto III, who bolted the United Opposition (UNO) and joined the Palace's "Unity Ticket." "These individuals may be considered as sure winners if elections were held today given that their current statistical rankings range from 1st to 11th places - clearly within the winning circle of 12 senators," Pulse Asia said in a statement. Pangilinan was not named in the UNO's initial list of eight candidates for its senatorial lineup, but has been repeatedly mentioned as a likely choice for the remaining for slots. Other candidates who "share the same statistical ranking of 5th to 14th places" are: Senate President Manuel Villar Jr (26.4%), Senators Ralph Recto (26.0%) and Joker Arroyo (25.8%), San Juan Mayor Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito (25.7%), lawyer Aquilino Pimentel III (24.4%) and Sen. Edgardo Angara (24.0%) Listed as "probable winners" are former Sen. Gregorio Honasan (23.3%), House Minority Leader Francis Escudero (23.2%) and Tarlac Rep. Benigno Aquino III (22.5%). The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from January 25 to 29 this year with an error margin of +/- 3%. When the survey was conducted, Pulse Asia listed several issues were among the top news stories. Among these were Charlie "Atong" Ang's plea-bargaining agreement with the court in connection with his plunder case, the re-investigation of former Batangas Gov. Antonio Leviste's homicide case, the decision of Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta to bolt the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) as well as "relatively good economic news." 8 names The survey firm noted that 12.2% of the respondents are "either still undecided as regards their senatorial candidates or refuse to name their senatorial preferences at this time." It added that on average, Filipinos are naming eight out of a maximum 12 of their senatorial bets for the May 2007 elections. Meanwhile, landing 16th to 20th spots are Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (17.1%), actress Susan Roces (16.9%), former Sen. Francisco Tatad (16.3%), Michael Defensor (14.3%) and Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino "Ruffy" Biazon (13.9%). Other names mentioned in the survey include actor Cesar Montano (12.8%); Optical Media Board chair Edu Manzano (12.4%); former Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta (11.5%); Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri (10.3%); actor Richard Gomez (9.2%), TV host and former Executive Secretary Oscar Orbos (7.8%); Raul Roco's widow Sonia (7.5%); former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez (6.1%); Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr (5.6%); Singer Rico J. Puno (5.3%), Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez (5.2%), Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo (5.1%), El Shaddai spiritual leader Mariano "Mike" Velarde (5.1%); Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson (4.2%); Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV (4.2%) and Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles (4.1%). Sub-national estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey (i.e., Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) have a +/- 6% error margin, also at 95% confidence level. - GMANews.TV