Marcos, Escudero share top spot for VP in SWS poll

Sen. Francis Escudero (left) shares the top spot with Sen. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos in the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations on preferred vice presidential candidates in the May polls. NINO JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER PHOTO

The race for the second highest position in the land heated up as the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed Senator Francis Escudero sharing the top spot with Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The results of the Feb. 5 to 7 survey, which was first published on BusinessWorld on Monday, showed Escudero and Marcos tied in first place with 26 percent ratings—the first time since SWS conducted its preference polls in September 2015.

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Escudero’s rating dipped from last month’s 28 percent while Marcos gained one point.

Escudero, the vice presidential candidate of the Partido Galing at Puso, previously enjoyed a wide lead against his rivals–even getting 30 percent during the November and December polls last year.

In third place is Liberal Party’s candidate Camarines Sur representative Maria Leonor  “Leni” Robredo who got 19 percent (from January’s 17 percent), followed by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano with 16 percent (from last month’s 14 percent).

Senator Gringo Honasan is in fifth place with six percent and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV placed sixth at five percent. 

Sotto still on top 

In the senatorial race, reelectionist Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III remained the leading candidate with 52 percent. He is followed by former senator and rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson (49 percent), Senator Ralph Recto (46 percent), former senator Francis Pangilinan (42 percent), and Senate President Franklin Drilon (43 percent).

The next five preferred senatorial candidates include former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri (38 percent), Sen. Sergio Osmeña III (37 percent), Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Representative Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (35 percent), former justice secretary Leila de Lima (35 percent) and former Akbayan Representative and Philhealth director Risa Hontiveros (27 percent).

Four candidates are fighting for last two spots of the “magic 12” circle: Sen. Teofisto   “TG” Guingona III (26 percent), former senator Richard Gordon (26 percent)   Valenzuela City representative Sherwin Gatchalian (23 percent) and former Tesda chief Joel Villanueva (22 percent).

The survey was conducted with 1,200 registered voters as respondents with sampling error margins of ±3 points.

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