Poe tops Pulse Asia survey on possible senatorial candidates

Senator Grace Poe emerged on top of the list of probable candidates who may win in the May 2019 senatorial elections if the polls were held in June, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Poe garnered 67.4 percent, followed by Taguig City Representative Pia Cayetano at 55.7 percent in the nationwide survey conducted June 15-21, 2018.

Incumbent Senator Cynthia Villar had 50.1 percent (for a statistical ranking of 3rd to 4th place), while Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio had 46.2 percent (ranked 3rd to 5th).

Senator Edgardo "Sonny" Angara Jr., meanwhile, got 41.9 percent (ranked 4th to 8th).

Others on the list who could probably win if the midterm elections were held last June are:

• former Senator Jinggoy Estrada: 37.9 percent (ranked 5th to 12th)
• Bureau of Corrections Director Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa: 37.7 percent (ranked 5th to 12th)
• Senator Koko Pimentel: 37.7 percent (ranked 5th to 12th)
• Senator Nancy Binay: 37.1 percent (ranked 6th to 12th)
• former Senator Sergio Osmeña: 36.6 percent (ranked 6th to 13th places)
• former Senator Lito Lapid: 36.2 percent (ranked 6th to 13th places)
• Senator JV Ejercito: 35.6 percent (ranked 6th to 13th places)
• Senator Bam Aquino: 32.1 percent (ranked 10th to 16th)

Of the total respondents, 4.8 percent are not inclined to support any of those listed.

Fifty-five percent of respondents, meanwhile, have already completed the slate of candidates they will vote for in the midterm elections.

Malacañang, in response, said the election is still months away.

"Wala naman pong eleksiyon. Lahat po kami ay nakatutok lang sa trabaho ngayon," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a news conference.

Pulse Asia Research Inc. conducted face-to-face interviews with 1,800 registered voters who were at least 18 years old.

The nationwide survey's error margin was placed at ±2 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

For the geographic areas, subnational estimates' error margins at the 95% confidence level were: ± 6 percent for Metro Manila, ± 3 percent for the rest
of Luzon, and ± 5 percent for each of Visayas and Mindanao. — with Virgil Lopez/KG/RSJ, GMA News