1 month ago
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Janvic Mateo - The Philippine Star
February 11, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — As the official campaign period begins today, 14 bets – mainly candidates from the administration’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate – have statistical chances of winning based on the latest pre-election survey conducted by Pulse Asia.
The non-commissioned survey, conducted from Jan. 18 to 25, found ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo still leading the candidates, with support from 62.8 percent of respondents.
He was followed by reelectionist Sen. Bong Go (50.4 percent), former Senate president Vicente Sotto III (50.2 percent), media personality Ben Tulfo (46.2 percent) and Senators Pia Cayetano (46.1 percent) and Bong Revilla (46 percent).
They were followed by Sen. Imee Marcos (43.2 percent), former senator Panfilo Lacson (42.4 percent), television host Willie Revillame (41.9 percent), Sen. Ronald dela Rosa (41.2 percent), outgoing Makati Mayor Abby Binay (41.1 percent) and former senator Manny Pacquiao (40.6 percent).
Outside the so-called Magic 12 but within statistical chances of winning are Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar (38.4 percent) and Sen. Lito Lapid (37.7 percent).
Of the 14 candidates leading the poll, only Go, Ben Tulfo, Revillame and Dela Rosa are not part of the administration slate.
Go and Dela Rosa are running under PDP-Laban of former president Rodrigo Duterte, while Ben Tulfo and Revillame are running as independents.
Sen. Marcos, sister of President Marcos, was originally part of the Alyansa slate, but she opted to run independent from her brother’s slate. Alyansa’s campaign team said they will not replace the reelectionist senator.
Trailing the frontrunners were former senators Francis Pangilinan (29.1 percent), Bam Aquino (27.4 percent) and Gregorio Honasan (25.2 percent), former interior secretary Benhur Abalos (24.8 percent), social media personality Dr. Willie Ong (20.2 percent) and Sen. Francis Tolentino (19.3 percent).
The Pulse Asia survey had 2,400 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus two percent.
Candidate withdraws
Meanwhile, on the eve of the campaign period, Agri party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee withdrew his candidacy from the senatorial race.
Aside from citing personal reasons behind his withdrawal, Lee noted that many factors made him decide to back out of the race, including lack of time to visit all areas across the country.
He personally went to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Intramuros to submit his letter of withdrawal.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said there are now 65 candidates vying for the 12 senatorial seats following the withdrawal of Lee.
Garcia said Lee’s name would remain on the ballot since printing is already ongoing. All votes in his favor will be considered stray. — Mayen Jaymalin
