Bautista out, Ejercito takes last slot in Pulse Asia’s Magic 12 for senators

Senator JV Ejercito speaks at a campaign sortie in General Trias, Cavite. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Former Quezon City mayor and senatorial bet Herbert Bautista has dropped out of the Magic 12 according to Pulse Asia’s senatorial survey released on Wednesday, while former senator JV Ejercito took the last slot.

The Pulse Asia survey conducted from March 17 to 21 showed Ejercito and his brother, fellow former senator Jinggoy Estrada at the 11th and 12th spots. Bautista used to occupy the 12th spot, while Ejercito was ranked 14th, behind re-electionist Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Ejercito leapfrogged Hontiveros, who remained at the 13th slot.

There were also minor changes in the rankings compared to Pulse Asia’s February survey: broadcaster Raffy Tulfo and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda are still at the number one and number two spots, but former House speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is now third, overtaking former Public Works secretary Mark Villar.

Behind Cayetano is Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero at the fourth spot, followed by Villar (5th), Senator Win Gatchalian (6th), Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri (7th), Senator Joel Villanueva (8th), actor Robin Padilla (9th), and former vice president Jejomar Binay (10th).

Outside the top 14 are the following senatorial candidates:

Former Senator Gringo Honasan (15th)
Senator Richard Gordon (16th)
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (17th)
Retired Police General Guillermo Eleazar (18th)
former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro (19th)
former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque (20th)

Earlier, Pulse Asia showed that presidential candidate and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is still leading the surveys, grabbing 56 percent of the respondent’s votes. However, it also showed Vice President Leni Robredo gaining nine percentage points, en route to a 24 percent voter share.

For the vice presidential race, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio managed to widen her lead, gaining the nod of 56 percent of the respondents compared to Senate President Vicente Sotto III who had a 20 percent voter share.

EDV