Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago continues to enjoy the support of university students after she emerged as the most preferred presidential aspirant in a mock poll in UP Manila.
In the poll conducted on January 21, Santiago secured 571, or 59.54 percent, of 959 votes cast.
READ: Santiago tops third campus poll | For Santiago, youth vote is key to victory
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte trailed Santiago after he got 168 votes, or 17.52 percent, of the total.
In the vice presidential race, Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo was picked as top choice of UP Manila students after she got 268, or 25.95 percent, of the total votes. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano placed second with 203 votes, or 21.75 percent.
The following composed the “Magic 12” senators of UP Manila students: Dick Gordon (10.23 percent), Risa Hontiveros (7.68 percent), Leila De Lima (7.36 percent), Neri Colmenares (7.13 percent), Ralph Recto (5.89 percent), Franklin Drilon (5.57 percent), Kiko Pangilinan (5.55 percent), Ping Lacson (5.43 percent), Migz Zubiri (4.61 percent), Serge Osmeña (4.48 percent), Win Gatchalian (4.46 percent) and Teofisto Guingona (3.56 percent).
The mock poll, which was titled “UP Manila Votes: Mock Elections 2016” was organized by the UP Political Science Society, in partnership with in partnership with the College of Medicine Student Council, the College of Nursing Student Council, the College of Arts and Sciences Student Council, the University Pharmaceutical Association Student Council, the College of Public Health Student Council, the College of Dentistry Student Council, the College of Allied Medical Professions Student Council, and Kabataan Tayo ang Pag-asa.
Santiago previously topped mock polls conducted in UP Los Baños and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Manila.
She was also among the top three choices of UP Diliman students for the presidency along with former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Grace Poe.
The feisty senator has always said that she is banking on the “youth vote” to propel her to the presidency. CB