Loren top Senate bet in 2013 - poll

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda emerged as the top senatorial bet for the May 2013 senatorial elections in the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

Nearly six out of 10 (58.5 percent) Filipinos would vote for Legarda if the elections were held at the time the survey was conducted from Feb. 26 to March 9.

Pulse Asia’s survey on the 2013 Elections: Senatorial Preference used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above.

Sen. Francis Escudero came in second with 52.7 percent, followed by former senator and now Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas (41.8 percent; rank 3-5), Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (41.6 percent, rank 3-5) and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (38.2 percent, rank 3-7).

Former vice president Noli de Castro was ranked fifth to ninth places with 34.6 percent; followed by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (33.7 percent, rank 5-10); Sen. Gregorio Honasan (32.1 percent, rank 6-10); San Juan Rep. Jose Victor Ejercito (31.3 percent, rank 6-12) and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III (29.0 percent, 7-12).

News anchor/broadcaster Ted Failon was the choice of 26.9 percent of respondents (rank 9-14); followed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (26.6 percent, rank 9-15); Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (22.5 percent, rank 11-22); former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri (22.4 percent, rank 11-22); and Ana “Jamby” Madrigal (21.8 percent, rank, 13-24).

The other personalities who were included in the survey were former presidential management staff chief Michael Defensor (21.5 percent); actress/TV host and presidential sister Kris Aquino (20.7 percent); former senator Richard Gordon (20.3 percent); game show host Willie Revillame (20.2 percent); Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara (18.1 percent); actress Sharon Cuneta (17.0 percent); Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chair Grace Poe (12.7 percent); former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro (11.8 percent); news anchor/broadcaster Mike Enriquez (11.0 percent); and actors Richard Gomez (10.8 percent); and Eduardo Manzano (8.9 percent).