SEN. Manuel Villar would top the presidential elections if they were held now, according to a Social Weather Stations poll.
The survey, conducted on April 16 to May 6 and commissioned by Villar, showed 22 percent of Filipinos were likely to vote Villar and 18 percent, Vice President Noli de Castro. The SWS polled 7,000 registered voters.
Others who got double-digit support were Sen. Francis Escudero and former President Joseph Estrada, both at 14 percent, and Sen. Loren Legarda, 10 percent.
Villar ranked fourth among presidential preferences in Pulse Asia’s May 2009 survey, garnering only 14 percent of support. The latest SWS poll showed the senator, who is being investigated by the Senate for his alleged involvement in the C-5 anomaly, gaining six points since February.
The SWS said it was authorized by Villar to disclose that he had commissioned through his media officer, Avic Amarillo the five surveys done by the research organization on the 2010 elections, specifically in June, September and December last year and in February and April-May this year.
The SWS said the respondents were given a list of candidates to choose from and gave their answers orally. The list was in alphabetical order.
All five surveys listed Villar, De Castro, Escudero, Estrada, Legarda, and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manuel Roxas II. Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Bayani Fernando was included in the list starting September, while Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay appeared in the roster starting December.
The June 2008 and February 2009 surveys had sample sizes of 1,200 adults while the September and December 2008 surveys polled 1,500 adults.
