No change in top 16 in Senate race

THERE was no change in the top 16 choices for senator in the latest Manila Standard survey of 2,500 registered voters conducted from April 4 to 6.

In the last three survey months, the top three places continued to be occupied by incumbent senators: Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and Miriam Defensor Santiago.

The top 16 in April were Revilla (54 percent), Estrada (50 percent), Santiago (43 percent), Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (36 percent), Senator Pia Cayetano (35 percent), former Senator Vicente Sotto III (31 percent), former Senator Franklin Drilon (31 percent), former Senator Ralph Recto (26 percent); Rep. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (25 percent), Senator Lito Lapid (24 percent), former senator Sergio Osmeña III (19 percent), former Rep. Gilbert Remulla (18 percent), and Jose de Venecia III (18 percent), Gwendolyn Pimentel (16 percent), Teofisto Guingona III (16 percent), and Rozzano Rufino Biazon (14 percent).

As in the previous Manila Standard 2010 polls, the respondents were asked to cast their votes for 12 senators together with their presidential and vice presidential choices in a ballot patterned after the official form that will be used in the May 10 election.

On average, voters chose only seven names for senator. Metro Manila, which previously registered the most number of preferences of about nine names chosen, fell to the national average in the April survey.

Those who did not shade any oval corresponding to their preference for senator were considered undecided. They accounted for 10 percent of the voters. –Manila Standard Today