CURRENT, FORMER SENATORS LEAD IN STANDARD OPINION POLL

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

SIX senators seeking reelection, four former senators, and two newcomers make up the 12 top candidates for the Senate, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by Manila Standard Today.

The Standard Poll, conducted between Nov. 2 and 9, involved in-person interviews with 2,500 registered voters, and had a margin of error of 2 percent at the national level.

Heading the list was Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago with 48 percent, followed by Senators Jinggoy Estrada with 47 percent and Pia Cayetano with 41 percent; former Senate President Franklin Drilon with 40 percent; Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. with 37 percent; former Senator Ralph Recto with 31 percent; broadcaster Ted Failon with 31 percent; former Senator Vicente Sotto III with 29 percent; Senator Juan Ponce Enrile with 28 percent; Senator Jamby Madrigal with 28 percent; former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. with 26 percent; and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay with 26 percent.

“Given the tentativeness of the list and the fluidity of events, those reaching up to the 25th rank still have a chance of making it to the top 12 list,” said Pedro Laylo Jr., Standard Today’s resident pollster.

Those falling within the top 25 were Aquilino Pimentel; Senator Richard Gordon; TV game show host Willie Revillame; former senator Sergio Osmeña III; Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.; former Senator Juan Flavier; Senator Lito Lapid; actor and TV host Edu Manzano; Environment Secretary Lito Atienza; and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. chairman Manuel Pangilinan.

On average, voters chose nine names from the list of 70 possible senatorial candidates, the survey results showed. About half of the sample chose 12 senators from the list.

The poll used a multi-stage probability sampling allocated into 500 random samples each in Metro Manila, North and Central Luzon, South Luzon and Bicol, the Visayas and Mindanao.

The respondents were asked this question: “If elections are held today, who among the following will you vote for senator of the Philippines? You may choose up to 12 names.”