Erwin Tulfo leads the eight senatorial candidates backed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. who made it to the top 12 in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey for the May 12 midterm elections.
The survey commissioned by Stratbase Consultancy was conducted from Feb. 15 to 19.
Negrense Jayvee Hinlo (PDPLBN) who obtained a single digit score of 4 percent was not close to the winning circle, the SWS reported.
The survey showed Tulfo at No. 1 with 45 percent of intended votes, followed by Bong Go (PDPLBN) in second place with 38 percent and Lito Lapid (NPC) in 3rd place with 36 percent, the SWS reported on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Tito Sotto (NPC) and Ben Tulfo (IND) tied in 4th-5th place with 34 percent each.
Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (LAKAS) and Pia Cayetano (NP) are tied in 6th-7th place with 33 percent each.
Ping Lacson (IND) and Bato Dela Rosa (PDPLBN) are tied in 8th-9th place with 32 percent each.
In statistical contention for the last three seats are Manny Pacquiao (PFP), Abby Binay, Abby (NPC), and Willie Revillame, Willie Wil (IND), who are tied in 10th-12th place with 30 percent each, and Camille Villar (NP) in 13th place with 29 percent.
The administration bets who made it to the top 12 are Erwin Tulfo, Lapid, Sotto, Revilla, Cayetano, Lacson, Binay and Pacquiao.
Following the top thirteen candidates are Imee Marcos in 14th place with 24 percent, Kiko Pangilinan (LP) in 15th place with 22 percent, Benhur Abalos (PFP) in 16th place with 17 percent, Bam Aquino (KNP) in 17th place with 16 percent and Francis Tolentino (PFP) in 18th place with 15 percent, the SWS reported.
Philipp Salvador (PDPLBN) and Gringo Honasan (RP) are tied in 19th-20th place, with 14 percent each, it added. *