Nine candidates from the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas have secured strong positions in the latest senatorial survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), according to results released Wednesday, March 26.
The survey, conducted from March 15 to 20 and commissioned by Stratbase Consultancy, showed ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo leading those in the winning circle with 42 percent of voter preference.
Tulfo was tied with Senator Bong Go in 1st-2nd place.
Former Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who is also from the Alyansa slate, followed in 3rd-4th place with 34 percent, alongside independent candidate Ben Tulfo.
Other administration-backed candidates in the top 12 are Senator Lito Lapid (5th place with 33 percent), Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. (6th place with 32 percent), Senator Pia Cayetano and former Senator Panfilo Lacson (tied for 7th-8th place with 31 percent), Makati Mayor Abby Binay, former Senator Manny Pacquiao, and House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar (tied at 11th-13th place with 27 percent).
Other Alyansa candidates outside the top 12 include Senator Imee Marcos (16th place with 19 percent), former Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. (18th place with 17 percent), and Senator Francis Tolentino (20th with 13 percent).
Meanwhile, non-administration candidates in the top 12 were independent candidate Willie Revillame (10th with 28 percent) and Senator Ronald dela Rosa (9th place with 30 percent).
The nationwide survey interviewed 1,800 registered voters and has a ±2.31% margin of error for national percentages.
Respondents were asked who they would most likely vote for as senator if the elections were held today.
They received a ballot enclosed in an envelope and were instructed to vote for up to 12 candidates by shading or marking the oval beside their chosen names.
The survey used the list of 66 names based on the revised ballot face template released by the Commission on Elections. *PNA