MANILA, Philippines – Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada are in a virtual tie for first place among 15 candidates who have a statistical chance of winning if the elections were to be held in the latter part of January, a Pulse Asia survey showed.

Of the 1,800 respondents aged 18 years and above polled from January 22-26, 51.9 percent said they would vote for Revilla while 50.4 percent would vote for Estrada, said the survey. The poll has a margin of error of ± 2 percent.

Other candidates with a statistical chance of winning are: Senator Pilar Juliana (Pia) Cayetano (46.8 percent); former Senate president Franklin Drilon (43.2 percent); Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (41.2 percent); Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (39.7 percent); former National Economic and Development Authority Director General Ralph Recto (34.4 percent); former senators Sergio Osmena (31.6 percent) and Vicente Sotto III (30.5 percent); Senator Manuel Lapid (29.7 percent); Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand R. Marcos (26.3 percent); and Jose P. de Venecia III (24 percent).

The survey said within “striking distance” for a senatorial seat were Muntinlupa Representative Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (19.8 percent); Bukidnon Representative Teofisto Guingona III (19.7 percent); and lawyer Alexander L. Lacson (19.1 percent) – ranked 13th to 15th.

The survey added that despite a very low awareness level of 33 percent, Lacson, contrary to previous trends in pre-election voting preferences, was “making it.”

At the same time, the survey said that one out of 10 Filipinos or 10.9 percent does not express support for any of the senatorial candidates for the May 2010 elections, which would be much higher than the December 2009 figure of 3.4 percent.