Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Former and incumbent senators have led in the latest voters’ senatorial preference survey by Pulse Asia.
The poll, which was released on Thursday, showed that ex-senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and current lawmaker and TV host Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on top of the voters’ choice for senators in 2016.
The latest survey, conducted from May 30 to June 5, showed that Lacson had the highest voting preference with 67.4 percent while Sotto had 63.4 percent. The survey said both have a statistical ranking of 1st to 2nd places.
Lacson has earlier said that it was more viable for him to run for senator instead of president in 2016 because of his good showing in survey.
READ: Lacson: I don’t want to lose again
Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. landed on the third spot with 54.2%
Within the 4th to 7th places were Senator Ralph Recto (47.6%) and former senator and now Food Security and Agricultural Modernization czar Francis Pangilinan (46.9%).
READ: Binay still leads Pulse Asia presidential poll; Duterte enters top 5
Senate President Franklin M. Drilon landed on the 4th -8th places with 45.9 percent while resigned senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was in 4th to 11th places with 43.9 percent.
Other potential candidates who enjoyed strongest support were:
Senator Sergio R. Osmeña III (41.2%, 6th to 13th places),
Former Senator Richard Gordon (39.7%, 7th to 13th places),
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (39.2%, 7th to 14th places),
Justice Secretary de Lima (38.7%, 7th to 14th places),
Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao (37.6%, 8th to 14th places),
Taguig City Representative Lino Edgardo S. Cayetano (36.1%, 8th to 14th places),
Former Senator Jamby Madrigal (33.9%, 10th to 14th places).
Among the 46 potential senatorial candidates, the latest survey revealed that 14 have the highest chance of winning.
Pulse Asia noted that among the probable winners in the 2016 senatorial race based on this poll, only De Lima is not a member or a former member of Congress.