Reelectionists top likely 2013 Senate winners, says Pulse Asia

If elections were held between August and September, 15 out of 36 possible candidates, most of them incumbent officials, have “statistical chance” of winning the senatorial race, Pulse Asia says Monday.

Citing a national survey conducted from August 31 to September 7, Pulse Asia showed that reelectionist senators and first-time senatorial bets running under the Liberal Party and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) will most likely win in the mid-term polls in May 2013.

“Virtually all of the probable winners are either former or incumbent members of Congress,” Pulse Asia said in a statement.

Reelectionist Senators Loren Legarda and Francis “Chiz” Escudero would emerge as top winners of the senatorial race, the latest Pulse Asia survey said.

Legarda enjoyed 67.3 percent of support from Filipino adults, snatching the top spot from Escudero, who received 61.2 percent support from 1,200 respondents nationwide.

Reelectionist Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (49.9 percent) shared the third spot with San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito  (49.9 percent), and Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. (47.4 percent).

But Ejercito, son of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, enjoyed 96 percent of awareness among respondents than the son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s 93 percent.

Reelectionist Senator Antonio Trillanes IV ranked 6th with 41.2 percent while Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan occupied the 7th place with 40.6 percent rating.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III placed one spot higher after receiving 39.2 percent support than former Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who got 37.4 percent.

Aurora Province Rep. Edgardo M. Angara ranked 10th with 35.9 percent while former Las Piñas City Rep. Cynthia A. Villar is on the 11th spot with 32.7 percent.

Vice President Jejomar Binay’s eldest daughter, Ma. Lourdes Nancy Binay (27.4 percent), as well as former senators Richard Gordon (26.2 percent), Ramon Magsaysay (25.2 percent), and Ana “Jamby” Madrigal (23.2 percent) trailed behind on the 12th spot.

But Pulse Asia explained the lowest statistical ranking of Binay, Gordon, Magsaysay, and Madrigal “puts them out of the winners’ circle.”

Justice Sec. Leila De Lima (21.9 percent), former Akbayan party-list Rep. Anna Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel (19.9 percent), and Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon 18.4 percent) followed the list.