Pulse: Sotto maintains lead in senatorial poll survey

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III maintained his lead in the latest Pulse Asia survey released on Saturday.

The survey showed that 68.8 percent of the respondents will vote for Sotto while 65.5 percent will vote for former Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.

Occupying the third slot was former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson with 63.3 percent while reelectionists Sen. Ralph Recto and Senate President Frank Drilon scored 59.9 percent and 58.8 percent, respectively.

Former Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri placed sixth with 54.9 percent, followed by Sen. Sergio Osmeña III with 54.8 percent, Philippine Red Cross Chair Richard Gordon with 48.6 percent and former justice secretary Leila de Lima with 48.2 percent.

Sharing the 10th to 13th slots were boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao with 46.9 percent, Sen. Teofisto "TG" Guingona III with 41.4 percent, former Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel with 41.1 percent and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian with 37.7 percent.

The survey was conducted among 1,200 respondents nationwide from January 24 to 28. 

Sotto vowed to support Sen. Grace Poe, who also topped the latest Pulse Asia presidential survey.