Only 13 senatorial bets have statistical chances of winning

MANILA, Philippines – With less than two weeks before the May 9 elections, only 13 of 50 senatorial candidates have statistical chances of winning, according to the latest survey by Pulse Asia.

The rest of the candidates are trailing far behind.

The nationwide survey was conducted from April 16 to 20, using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 registered voters 18 years old and above and with biometrics.

Still leading the senatorial race is Sen. Vicente Sotto III with 53.8 percent and a statistical ranking of 1st to 2nd.

Close behind him is Senate President Franklin Drilon with 49.2 percent and ranked 1st to 3rd places.

They were followed by three former senators – Francis Pangilinan with 46.4 percent in 2nd to 3rd places; Panfilo Lacson, 39.1 percent and Juan Miguel Zubiri, 39 percent, in 4th to 9th places.

Other probable winners included world boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao with 38.5 percent and ranked 4th to 10th; Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, 37.9 in 4th to 12th; former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros, 36.3 and Sen. Ralph Recto, 34.9 percent in 4th to 13th places.

Completing the list of probable winners are former senator Richard Gordon with 34.1 percent and ranked 6th to 13th; Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian 33.8 and former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Joel Villanueva, 33.7 in 7th to 13th and former justice secretary Leila de Lima, 32.3 percent and in 8th to 13th places.

The non-commissioned survey has a plus or minus 2.3 percentage points error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.