Poe tops new SWS poll

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Grace Poe is the top choice among preferred senatorial candidates for the 2019 midterm elections based on a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) commissioned by a certain Alde Joselito Pagulayan.

The poll, taken from Sept. 15 to 23, showed Poe leading the race with a 52-percent voter preference.

The 1,500 respondents were provided with a list of 39 names and were allowed to choose up to 12 names.

Poe was followed by Sen. Cynthia Villar (46 percent), Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano (37 percent) and Sen. Nancy Binay (31 percent).

Tied in fifth and sixth places were former senator Lito Lapid and Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, each with 30 percent, followed closely by former senator Jinggoy Estrada at seventh with 29 percent.

Completing the winning circle were Sen. Sonny Angara (eighth place, 26 percent), presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (ninth, 24 percent), Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, former senator Mar Roxas and Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV (10th to 12th, 22 percent each).

Taking the 13th to 16th slots were former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, former senator Serge Osmeña and Sen. JV Ejercito and Robin Padilla with 19 percent each.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista occupied the 17th spot with a voter preference of 16 percent, followed by former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (15 percent), former senator TG Guingona (12 percent), Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino (11 percent) and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go and Speaker Gloria Macapaga-Arroyo with 10 percent each.

In another SWS’ commissioned survey released on Thursday, Villar was the leading senatorial candidate for 2019, followed by Poe and Cayetano.

The poll, sponsored by candidate Tolentino, was also conducted from Sept. 15 to 23 but used a different set of names.

Both surveys, however, showed six percent of respondents remain undecided.