These are the highlights of the Social Weather Station survey conducted last January 21 up to 24 among 2,100 nationwide. The survey was commissioned by the newspaper, BusinessWorld.
Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino III ,with 42 %, remains the top choice of the respondents who were asked, “Sa mga sumusunod na pangalan sa listahang ito, sino po ang malamang ninyong iboboto bilang Presidente ng Pilipinas, kung ang eleksyon ay gaganapin ngayon? (Among the names found on this list, who will you probably vote for as President of the Philippines if the elections were held today?) The error margin used was ±2%.
Nacionalista Party presidential bet Manuel Villar Jr came second with 35% and former President Joseph Estrada , third with 13%.
Lakas-Kampi bet Gilbert Teodoro got four percent. Bangon Pilipinas” Eddie Villanueva and Bagumbayan’s Richard Gordon each got two percent.
Independent candidate Jamby Madrigal got .04 %; Vetellano Acosta, 03%; John Carlos de los Reyes, .02%; Nicanor Perlas, 01%.
The undecided was very small at two percent.
In the last three SWS surveys on presidential candidates, Aquino’s numbers have been going down: 46% on Dec. 5-10, 2009 ; 44% on Dec. 27-28, 2009 and 42% last Jan.21-24.
Villar, on the other hand, has been going up: 27% on Dec. 5-10, 2009; 33% on Dec. 27-28, 2009; and 35 percent, Jan. 21-24.
Estrada’s numbers has also been decreasing: 16% to 15% to 13%.
Aquino’s running mate Mar Roxas, with 48 per cent, increased his lead over NP’s Loren Legarda who got 28 per cent. Partido ng Masang Pilipino’s Jejomar Binay got 16 points.
Bayani “BF” F. Fernando and actor and Eduardo “Edu” B. Manzano.Mr. Manzano got two% each. Perfecto R. Yasay got 0.4%; Jose “Jay” Y. Sonza 0.3%; and Dominador “Jun” F. Chipeco, Jr. , 0.2%.
In the senatorial race, re-electionists led the top 12 with Ramon B. Revilla Jr. of the Lakas-Kampi the in number one with 58%, followed by NP’s Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and PMP’s Jose “Jinggoy” E. Estrada who both got a 57%. People’s Reform Party bet Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was 50%.
The others in the top 12 are:
• former Senate president Franklin M. Drilon (Liberal Party or LP), 47%;
• Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile ( PMP), 42%;
• former senator Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III (Nationalist People’s Coalition), 41%
• former senator Ralph G. Recto (LP), 40%;
• Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan), 39%;
• former senator Sergio “Serge” D. Osmena III (independent), 38%;
• Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto “TG” L. Guingona III (LP), 31%;
• businessman Jose P. De Venecia III, son of former House Speaker Jose C. De Venecia, Jr. (PMP), 30%;
• and Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), 28%.
SWS said those with statistical chances of making it to the Magic 12 are Gwendolyn C. Pimentel-Gana the daughter of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. who is in the NP slate with 23% and Muntinlupa City Rep. Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (LP) with 21%.
The SWS asked 2,100 adults to choose up to 12 names from a list of 62 candidates that was pre-approved by BusinessWorld.