FORMER senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. remained as the top choice for president in the May 9 elections despite a four-point drop in voter preference from 60 to 56 percent while Vice President Leni Robredo stayed in strong second, her bid boosted by a nine-point gain from 15 to 24 percent, the March 17 to 21 Ulat sa Bayan survey of Pulse Asia showed.
The survey, which involved 2,400 adult respondents nationwide with a ±2 percent margin of error, also showed that if elections were held today, Marcos’ running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio, has the lock on the vice presidency despite a three-point drop from 56 to 53 percent, followed by Senate President Tito Sotto who also dropped to 20 from 24 percent.
Trailing in the presidential derby are Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso (8 percent, down from 10 percent), and Senators Manny Pacquiao (6 percent, down from 8 percent), and Panfilo Lacson (unchanged at 2 percent).
Receiving less than one percent voter preference are Faisal Mangondato (1 percent up from 0.4 percent), Ernesto Abella (0.1 percent from 0), Jose Montemayor (0.05 percent from 0), Leody de Guzman (0.02 percent from 0), and Norberto Gonzales (unchanged from 0).
Three percent were either still not sure who to vote for or refused to give an answer in the presidential and vice-presidential races.
Robredo’s camp said the latest Pulse Asia survey shows the “turning of the tide” and reflects the groundswell of support for the opposition presidential candidate, giving her more momentum.
“The survey numbers are starting to reflect what we have been seeing on the ground all along: the massive crowds, the fierce passion, the untiring commitment of Filipinos from all walks of life, coming together to rally behind Leni Robredo’s bid for the Presidency,” said Robredo’s spokesman, Ibarra Gutierrez.
Lacson said he was “undisturbed” with the latest Pulse Asia survey, adding: “I don’t believe it (surveys) based on what we feel on the ground.”
Marcos is the top choice across geographic areas (48 percent to 64 percent) and socio-economic classes (52 percent to 56 percent), while Moreno is the top choice of voters as alternative candidate in case their preferred candidate for president does not continue his or her candidacy (23 percent down from 26 percent).
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Robredo’s running mate, also enjoyed a four-point boost in voter preference, from 11 to 15 percent, although he remained in third, while Moreno’s running-mate, Doc Willie Ong had a one-point drop from 6 to 5 percent.
Receiving one percent or less in voter preference are Lito Atienza (1 percent, unchanged), Manny Lopez (0.3 percent form 0.1 percent), Walden Bello (0.1 percent unchanged), Carlos Serapio (0.01 percent, unchanged), Rizalito David (0.01 percent from 0).
Duterte-Carpio is the most favored vice-presidential candidate across geographic areas (44 percent to 83 percent) and socio-economic classes (55 percent to 63 percent), while Sotto is the top choice of voters as alternative candidate in case their preferred candidate for vice president does not continue his or her candidacy (34 percent up from 31 percent).
Pulse Asia said 58 percent of its respondents are likely to vote for 12 senators with the top choice being broadcaster and businessman Raffy Tulfo (65.6 percent), followed by Antique Rep. Loren Legarda (58.3 percent), and Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (56.4 percent).
Also in the top 12 are Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero (54.4 percent); former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (52.4 percent), Senators Sherwin Gatchalian (50.3 percent), Juan Miguel Zubiri (50.1 percent), and Joel Villanueva (43.9 percent).
Others in the top 12 are actor Robin Padilla (42.5 percent), former vice president Jejomar Binay (42.5 percent), and former senators Jinggoy Estrada (36.5 percent) and JV Estrada Ejercito (35.9 percent).
Closely behind them are Senator Risa Hontiveros (35.6 percent), and former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (34.3 percent).
At least 1.8 percent of the respondents are still undecided on who to vote for senator while 1.7 percent said they are not voting for any senatorial candidate and 0.2 percent refuse to name their bets for senator.
Gutierrez, a former Akbayan party-list lawmaker, said Robredo’s massive improvement since the start of the campaign period “clearly establishes what we have long known: that VP Leni has the momentum, which we expect will only further intensify and accelerate all the way to May 9.”
“What we are seeing now is the turning of the tide. Sa tulong ng ating mga kababayang patuloy na kumikilos, kumakatok, nakikiusap, nangungumbinsi, ipapanalo natin ito (With the help of our countrymen who continue to act, knock on the doors, hold dialogues and convince others, we will win this),” he said. — With Wendell Vigilia and Raymond Africa
