Loren, Chiz tied at top spot in latest Pulse Asia survey

MANILA, Philippines - Senators Loren Legarda and Francis "Chiz" Escudero were in a statistical tie for the number one spot in the latest survey of senatorial candidates by pollster Pulse Asia.

Legarda garnered a rating of 58 percent while Escudero came in with 54.3 percent. With a margin of error of +/- two percentage points, the two reelectionists were in a statistical tie for number one.

Both Legarda and Escudero are guest candidates of the administration's Liberal Party and the opposition United Nationalist Alliance.

Legarda is elated by the results of the survey which was conducted last Jan. 19 to 30.  While the ratings were lower than the past surveys, she said it cannot be compared in a monthly basis.

Legarda noted that all ratings also went down, but she regained the highest spot.

Escudero, meanwhile, said he remains humbled by the recent surveys.

“I am happy and humbled by the continued confidence by the people, but what is important is that public servants seeking the people’s vote like me continue to work to prove that we are worthy of the positions entrusted to us,” Escudero said.

The latest Pulse Asia poll showed Team Pinoy’s Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano at third with 48.9 percent, while UNA bets Nancy Binay, 43.6 percent and San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito were tied for fourth and fifth places, respectively.

Other candidates who came out in the Magic 12 were Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, 41.1 percent; Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, 40.7 percent; UNA’s Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile, Jr., 40.4 percent; and former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, 39.1 percent.

Completing the list for the magic 12 are UNA’s Sen. Migz Zubiri, 37.6 percent, Aurora Province Rep. Edgardo Angara of Team Pinoy, 37.1 percent; and Sen. Gringo Honasan, 36.8 percent.

Pulse Asia noted the close difference in the numbers among the candidates ranked from fourth to twelfth places.

Statistically tied for 13th to 16th places are Team Pinoy’s Bam Aquino, Independent Grace Poe and former Sen. Richard Gordon (UNA).

With  less than four months to go before the May 2013 elections, Pulse Asia noted that only about a third of the respondents, or 34 percent, has a complete senatorial slate with most having a definite eight candidates in their list of preferred senators.