Noynoy tops survey on 2010 presidential hopefuls

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III topped the latest nationwide survey on the 2010 presidential hopefuls conducted by Makati-based polling firm StratPOLLS Inc.

StratPOLLS is a sister company of dwIZ, Home Radio, Business Mirror and Graphic magazine.

The non-commissioned survey, conducted from Sept. 17 to 24, used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 representative adults 18 to 60 years old.

Aquino was the presidential bet of 36 percent of respondents followed by Sen. Manuel Villar with 20 percent.

Sen. Francis Escudero and former President Joseph Estrada were “statistically tied” for third and fourth places with 11 percent each.

Following Escudero and Estrada was Vice President Noli de Castro with seven percent.

Sen. Loren Legarda and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro ranked sixth and seventh place with five percent each.

Other presidential aspirants who were included in the survey were Sen. Richard Gordon (two percent); Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva (one percent); Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando (0.5 percent); and Sen. Jamby Madrigal (0.5 percent).

The survey showed that Aquino received the highest votes across geographic areas and socio-economic classes.

In the National Capital Region, Aquino received 28 percent of the respondents’ vote; Villar, 21 percent; Estrada, 13 percent; Escudero, 11 percent; De Castro and Teodoro, nine percent; Legarda, five percent; Gordon, three percent; and Villanueva, one percent.

Fernando and Madrigal got zero votes in the NCR.

In the balance of Luzon, 36 percent chose Aquino; followed by Villar (18 percent); Escudero (15 percent); Estrada and De Castro (eight percent); Teodoro (six percent); Legarda (four percent); Gordon (two percent); and Villanueva and Fernando (one percent).

Aquino was also the leading presidential bet in the Visayas, receiving 44 percent of votes.

Villar was in second place with 26 percent; Estrada and Escudero, eight percent; De Castro, six percent; Legarda, four percent; Villanueva, two percent; and Teodoro and Gordon, one percent. Fernando and Madrigal again received zero votes.

In Mindanao, Aquino was picked by 37 percent of the respondents; followed by Villar and Estrada with 17 percent; Escudero, nine percent; De Castro, seven percent; Legarda, five percent; and Teodoro, three percent.

Gordon, Villanueva, Fernando and Madrigal obtained one percent each of the Mindanao votes.

Among the ABC class, Aquino received 24 percent; Villar, 19 percent; Escudero, 18 percent; Estrada, 11 percent; De Castro, eight percent; Legarda, four percent; Teodoro, Gordon and Villanueva, three percent; and Fernando and Madrigal had zero votes.

Among class D1, Aquino was favored by 36 percent; Villar, 20 percent; Escudero, 12 percent; Estrada, 11 percent; De Castro, seven percent; Teodoro, six percent; Legarda, four percent; and Gordon, Villanueva, Fernando and Madrigal with one percent each.

Among Class D2, 36 percent voted for Aquino, followed by Villar, 19 percent; Escudero, 12 percent; Estrada, 10 percent; De Castro, seven percent; Legarda and Teodoro, six percent; Villanueva, two percent; and Gordon and Fernando, one percent each. Madrigal got zero votes.

Among Class E or the masses, Aquino received 43 percent; Villar, 23 percent; De Castro, 16 percent; Estrada, nine percent; Escudero and Legarda, six percent; Teodoro and Gordon, two percent; and Villanueva, one percent. Fernando and Madrigal got zero votes.

Aquino was the favorite candidate among the respondents in the 18 to 35 age bracket, obtaining 35 percent of votes against Villar’s 20 percent; Escudero’s 12 percent and Estrada’s 11 percent.

The other presidential aspirants received less than 10 percent of votes.

Among the respondents aged 36 and above, 39 percent chose Aquino; 20 percent are for Villar; 11 percent for Escudero and 11 percent for Estrada.

The rest received less than 10 percent of votes.

In an eight-way race, the survey found that Aquino was still the leading presidential candidate with 37 percent of votes; followed by Villar with 19 percent.

Escudero and Estrada were statistically tied for third and fourth places with 11 percent each; followed by De Castro, seven percent.

Legarda and Teodoro were statistically tied for sixth and seventh places with six percent each; followed by Gordon with two percent.

In its survey for the vice presidential preference of Filipinos, SratPOLLS said Roxas was leading the race with 33 percent; followed by Escudero with 16 percent; Legarda, nine percent; De Castro, eight percent; Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, seven percent; Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., six percent; Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, five percent; Sen. Francis Pangilinan, four percent; and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, three percent.

Other personalities included in the vice presidential survey were Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who obtained two percent each; and Gordon and Madrigal with one percent each.

Meanwhile, the tandem of Aquino and Roxas received the highest votes of 65 percent.

They were followed by the teamup of Escudero-Legarda, 31 percent; De Castro-Teodoro, 26 percent; Legarda-Escudero, 25 percent; Villar-Estrada, 24 percent; Estrada-Binay, 22 percent; Villar-De Castro, 21 percent; Villar-Estrada, 20 percent; Villar-Escudero, 19 percent; Estrada-Escudero, 17 percent; Teodoro-Puno, 14 percent; and Villar-Sen. Pia Cayetano, 12 percent.

The StratPOLLS survey also found that a majority of Filipinos or 72 percent would vote for Cayetano in the senatorial election.

Cayetano was followed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, 64 percent; Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon and Santiago, 59 percent each; Revilla, 58 percent; Drilon, 57 percent; Gordon, 55 percent; Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III and Madrigal, 54 percent; businessman Joey de Venecia and former Sen. Ralph Recto, 53 percent; and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, 51 percent;

Former senator Serge Osmeña got 47 percent; former senator Tito Sotto, 42 percent; Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, 39 percent; TV host Edu Manzano, 38 percent; former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, 37 percent; Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, 36 percent; Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, 35 percent; Grace Po-Llamanzares, 30 percent; Gabriela Rep. Liza Masa, 24 percent; Nacionalista Party spokesman Adel Tamano, 21 percent; and Bayan Muna Reps. Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño, 20 percent each. –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)