Robredo rises in Pulse Asia survey; Marcos, Sara, Tulfo keep lead in races
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo in a file photo. Surveys show is a runaway frontrunner while Robredo is gaining grounds
By Claire Morales True, Managing Editor
MANILA — Presidential candidate Vice President Maria Leonor Leni Robredo has posted the biggest increase in voter preference among presidential candidates in the latest Pulse Asia non-commissioned survey, buoying her hopes and that of supporters for a victory in the May 9 elections.
The Pulse Asia survey conducted on March 17-21 showed Robredo’s numbers rising by nine percentage points while the numbers of her frontrunning rival former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declined by four points.
Data released by Pulse Asia showed Robredo’s score rose to 24% from 15% while that of Marcos fell from 60% to 56%.
This prompted political analysts to state that momentum is on the side of Robredo’s presidential bid.
Political strategist Dr. Dante Velasco said it is possible that if Marcos’ survey performance is on the downtrend, Robredo could then catch up.
Marcos, however, remained on top of the presidential race as scored the highest in the National Capital Region with 64%, 56% both in Classes C and D, and 52% in Class E.
Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso remained at the third spot with 8% voter share followed by Senator Emmanuel Manny Pacquiao with 6% and Senator Panfilo Lacson with 2%.
Still lagging in the survey are Faisal Mangondato (1%), Ernie Abella (0.1%), Jose Montemayor Jr. (0.05%), Leody De Guzman (0.02%), and Norberto Gonzales (0%).
Meanwhile, Marcos’ running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte also maintained her lead in the survey as her voter share even increased from 53% to 56%.
The presidential daughter leads in all island groups and has scored the highest in Mindanao with 83%. Among the socioeconomic groups, she got 63% in Class C, 55% in Class D, and 57% in Class E.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III remains at the second spot with 20% followed by Senator Francis Pangilinan (15%), Willie Ong (5%), Lito Atienza (1%), Manny Lopez (0.3%), Walden Bello (0.1%), Carlos Serapio (0.01%), and Rizalito David (0.01%).
In the senatorial survey, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo maintained his lead with 65.6% voter share.
Comebacking senators Loren Legarda (58.3%), former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (56.4%), and Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero (54.4%) followed Tulfo.
Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (52.4%), and reelectionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (50.3%) also had strong showing in the survey.
Completing the top 12 are Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri (50.1%), Senator Joel Villanueva (43.9%), actor Robin Padilla (42.5%), former Vice President Jejomar Binay (42.5%), former Senator Jose Jinggoy Estrada (36.5%), and his brother former senator Joseph Victor JV Ejercito (35.9%).
Pulse Asia said their survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews with 2,400 respondents aged 18 years old and above. It has a ± 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level and ± 4% error for major island groups covered.
