Gwen ranks 25th in survey

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia  ranked 25 in the list of senatorial candidates based on the survey  by Pulse Asia last Aug. 31 to Sept. 7.

The pollling service said  Garcia would  rank between number 24 to 29 if  elections were held today.

Garcia had an 8.6 percent rating.

Her  father, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 2nd district said the Pulse Asia survey shouldn’t be disregarded since past elections showed it reflected the actual outcome of the polls.

“It will help to determine prospects of one’s candidacy,” the elder Garcia said.

“In a few days, she will make an announcement,” he said, adding that the Garcia family has talked about the recent “clamor  of mayor allies in Cebu for her to run for a congressional seat in Cebu instead of the Senate.  He said it is up to Gwen to decide.

The governor was due to go to  Manila   to talk to leaders of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which placed her on their Senate ticket.

UNA is headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

“I think she’s going  to Manila this week. She will consult UNA leaders. I’ll give my advice in due time,” said Congressman Garcia

In that same survey Sen. Loren Legarda  emerged as the top choice for the Senate in the 2013 midterm elections if the elections were held in the first week of September.

The survey showed that 67.3 percent of Filipino adults would vote for Legarda if the elections were held between Aug. 31 and Sept. 7.

With eight months to go before the May 2013 senatorial elections, the same survey found that four in 10 Filipinos already had a complete slate for the upcoming elections while Filipinos had identified eight of their senatorial bets.

The survey had a margin of errror of plus or minus three percent.

Pulse Asia asked 1,200 adult respondents nationwide, “If the 2013 elections were held today, who among the following personalities would you vote for assuming they would run for office?”

The poll outfit provided a list of 36 candidates and instructed the respondents to choose only 12 names.  “Virtually all of the probable winners are either former or incumbent members of Congress,” Pulse Asia noted.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero ranked second with 61. 2 percent.

Tied in 3rd to 5th places were Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (49.9 percent), San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada (49.9 percent) and Cagayan Rep. Juan “Jackie” Ponce Enrile, Jr. (47.4 percent).

In the 6th to 10th places were Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (41.2 percent), Sen. Gregorio Honasan (40.6 percent) and Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (39.2 percent).

Also sharing 6th to 11th places were former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri (37.4 percent) and Aurora Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara (35.9 percent).

Trailing Zubiri and Angara was Las Piñas City Rep. Cynthia Villar (32.7 percent, 9th to 11th places).Inquirer with a re port from Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan