Legarda leads senatorial race — Pulso survey

House Deputy Speaker Loren Legardo, who is running for a Senate seat, leads the senatorial race, says Pulso ng Pilipino survey. | Inquirer file photo

Former senator and incumbent House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda is on top of the heap of 64-senatorial candidates again based on the results of another senatorial poll survey released recently.

The non-commissioned Pulso ng Pilipino survey conducted on April 4 to 15 showed Legarda as the top choice among the 2,440 respondents polled from the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Regions.

The comebacking senator and current Antique congresswoman registered a high 60 percent, chalking a two percent lead over Sorsogon Gov. Francis Escudero who placed second with 58 percent.

Recent poll surveys conducted by various organizations had Legarda’s name either lodged at No. 1 or No. 2, indicating that the lawmaker’s 2022 senatorial bid might put her again at her usual top spot in past Senate races she joined in.

Despite peaking at the right time before election day, Legarda said that while the survey results boosted her confidence, it will also serve to inspire her and her campaign staff to campaign harder.

“We want to reach more Filipinos as we can to present to them a legislative platform that is committed toward recovery and progress amidst the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

In a statement,  Issues and Advocacy Center (The Center) said: 

“The Pulso ng Pilipino survey covered registered voters in all socio-economic classes ABC, D and E that were selected at random with ages ranging from 18 to 65 years old.”

The Pulso survey also showed that former Sen. and Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano is statistically tied for the 3rd and 4th place with Senate Majority Floor Leader Migz Zubiri, 53 percent and 50 percent respectively

Next is former Secretary Mark Villar with 47 percent. He is followed by 6th placer broadcast personality Raffy Tulfo at 47 percent.  

Taking numbers 7 and 8 are former Sen. JV Ejercito and re-electionist Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian with voting preference of 45 percent and 41 percent, respectively.

The 9th and 10 spots are shared by actor Robin Padilla and re-electionist Sen. Joel Villanueva with 38 percent apiece.

The Pulso poll surveys saw former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro breaking into the Magic 12. He is tied in the 11th and 12th position with Sen. Risa Hontiveros, another re-electionist with 35 percent voting preference each. 

Other senatorial bets who are in strong contention for the top 12 spots are No. 13 former Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, 32 percent; No. 14 former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, 29 percent; No. 15 former Sen. Gregorio “Gringo”; No. 16, former Quezon City Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista, 27 percent; No. 17 lawyer Larry Gadon, 23 percent; No. 18 Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon, 22 percent; No. 19, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno 17 percent and No. 20 former Sen. Sonny Trillanes, 17 percent.