MANILA, Philippines? (UPDATE) Senator Manuel ?Manny? Villar emerged as the most trusted candidate for president, with arch rival and colleague Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III coming in second, according to a recent survey.

Of the 1,800 respondents surveyed by Pulse Asia from January 22 to 26, 70 percent think that Villar was trustworthy while 64 percent went for Aquino III. The survey had a ? 2 percent margin of error.

Former president Joseph Estrada ranked third, with a 33-percent trust rating while administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro got 32 percent for fourth place, the survey said.

Senator Richard Gordon is in fifth, with 26 percent; evangelist Eddie Villanueva, 15 percent; and Senator Maria Ana Consuelo ?Jamby? Madrigal, 14 percent, it said.

Olongapo City Councilor JC De los Reyes and environmentalist Nicanor Perlas got four percent each, it said.

In the survey, respondents were asked (in Filipino): ?We would like to ask you about your trust of some people in our society. With the use of this rating board, can you tell us how small or high is your trust of [name of personality]. Can you tell us whether you trust them completely, the most, most likely, not as much, hardly, no.?

In the vice presidential race, Senator Manuel ?Mar? Roxas II emerged on top with 73 percent, with Loren Legarda coming in second at 63 percent.

Forty-four percent of the respondents said they trusted Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, while 20 percent trusted actor and administration vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano.

In the same survey, 47 percent also expressed trust in the Commission on Elections while 43 percent trusted the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

Among the political developments at the time of the survey were:

? The Haiti earthquake;
? The impending retirement of Chief Justice Reynato Puno and questions on whether President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can appoint his replacement or leave it to his successor;
? The Senate committee report seeking to unseat Senator Manuel Villar over the C-5 extension road project;
? The Comelec decision paving the way for the candidacy of Arroyo for Congress and Estrada;
? The reinstatement of few presidential and senatorial candidates and inclusion of several partylist groups in the final list;
? Questions on the uncertainty of election automation; and
? The continuing investigation into the Maguindanao massacre.