Comelec proclaims 9 winning senators

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday afternoon proclaimed 9 winning senators, mostly old-timers at the Senate.

The 9 senators-elect are:

Ramon "Bong" Revilla - 18,218,514
Jinggoy Estrada - 17,722,162
Miriam Defensor Santiago - 16,066,001
Franklin Drion - 14,770,612
Juan Ponce Enrile - 14,695,263
Pia Cayetano - 12,821,946
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. - 12,372,118
Ralph Recto - 11,640,679
Vicente "Tito" Sotto III - 11,160,077

Of the 9 proclaimed winning senators, only Marcos is a first-timer at the Senate. The remaining eight were either incumbent or former senators.

The proclamation was held around 3 p.m. at the Comelec's canvassing center at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Drilon and Santiago were not present during the proclamation.

“You are now our representatives. You are now our champions. Do not let us down,” Comelec Chairman Jose Melo told the winning senators during the proclamation.

Melo said the 9 senators were proclaimed because "the remaining uncanvassed certificates of canvass (COCs) will not materially affect the votes obtained by the aforementioned candidates.

Melo announced that the 10th to 12th ranking winning candidates will be proclaimed only after the Comelec recevives the remaining uncanvassed COCs.

Senatorial candidates on 10th to 13th places were Sergio Osmeña III with 10, 996,061, Lito Lapid with 10,327, Teofisto "TG" Guingona III with 9,686,352 and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel with 8,581,125.

'Statistically improbable'

Baraquel told in an earlier interview over radio dzMM that she was still hoping that she could still catch up.

However, she said she had been advised by a statistician friend that it was already "statistically improbable" for her to make it to the "Magic 12."

"Umaasa pa rin ako pero may statistician akong kaibigan ang sabi niya statistically improbable na na makahabol pa ako (I'm still hoping, but I have a friend who is a statistician and he told me that it's already statistically improbable for me to catch up)," she said.

Baraquel said that she was ready to accept defeat as she believes that the automated elections was a success.

She said that she is still proud that she was made it on 13th place.

"Masaya ako. Hindi naman ako anak ng isang politiko. At least sa eleksyong ito ay umabot ako sa 13 (I'm happy. I'm not a politician’s child. At least, in this elections, I made it on 13th place)," she said.

Comelec Top 15 Senatoriables as of May 13, 2010 4:56 p.m.

The Comelec has canvassed 30 certificates of candidacy out of 276.
Below are the top 15 senatorial candidates.

1. Jinggoy Estrada – 3,715,333
2. Ramon Revilla – 3,649709
3. Miriam Defensor-Santiago – 3,427,585
4. Franklin Drilon – 3,087,445
5. Juan Ponce Enrile – 3,076,935
6. Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos Jr.– 3,047,020
7. Pia Cayetano -2,805,462
8. Vicente Sotto III – 2,408,467
9. Ralph Recto – 2,264,930
10. Sergio Osmena III– 2,263,524
11. Teofisto Guingona III– 2,168,619
12. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel – 1,904,276
13. Lito Lapid – 1,858,028
14. Gilbert Remulla – 1,832,388
15. Rozzano Rufino Biazon -1,757,645

Senatoriables Partial Unofficial Election Result as of May 11, 2010 4:15 p.m.

Senatoriables
1	BONG REVILLA, Ramon, Jr. B.	16,860,349
2	ESTRADA, Jinggoy E.	16,537,725
3	DEFENSOR SANTIAGO, Miriam P.	15,096,649
4	DRILON, Franklin M.	13,808,084
5	ENRILE, Juan Ponce -.	13,666,985
6	CAYETANO, Pilar Juliana S.	11,942,151
7	MARCOS, Ferdinand, Jr. R.	11,531,677
8	RECTO, Ralph G.	10,788,481
9	SOTTO , Vicente III C.	10,365,879
10	OSMEÑA, Sergio III D.	10,106,424
11	LAPID, Manuel M.	9,515,335
12	GUINGONA , Teofisto III D.	8,968,928
13	HONTIVEROS-BARAQUEL, Ana	7,963,109
14	BIAZON, Rozzano Rufino B.	7,525,280
15	DE VENECIA, Jose III P.	7,284,787
16	REMULLA, Gilbert Cesar C.	6,551,433
17	LIM, Danilo D.	6,398,500
18	ROCO, Sonia M.	5,902,309
19	QUERUBIN, Ariel O.	5,728,854
20	PIMENTEL, Gwendolyn D.	5,531,636
21	ACOSTA, Jr. Nereus O.	5,150,378
22	LACSON, Alexander L.	4,536,924
23	TAMANO, Adel A.	3,483,699
24	OSMEÑA, Emilio Mario R.	3,374,540
25	MAZA, Liza L.	3,364,918
26	OCAMPO, Saturnino C.	3,094,766
27	TATAD, Francisco S.	2,917,424
28	LOZADA, Jose Apolinario Jr L.	2,394,363
29	MITRA, Ramon B.	2,368,801
30	LANGIT, Rey M.	2,338,532
31	BELLO, Silvestre III H.	2,136,633
32	LAO, Yasmin B.	1,737,674
33	PAPIN, Imelda A.	1,704,240
34	OPLE, Susan V.	1,684,579
35	BAUTISTA, Martin D.	1,617,761
36	PLAZA, Rodolfo G.	1,326,314
37	BAUTISTA, J.V. L.	1,205,616
38	GUICO, Ramon, Jr. N.	1,044,289
39	LAMBINO, Raul L.	950,574
40	VILLANUEVA, Hector L.	833,974
41	OCAMPO, Ramoncito P.	809,253
42	INOCENCIO, Ma. Katherine L. R.	771,425
43	PALPARAN, Jovito Jr S.	702,929
44	TINSAY, Alexander B.	632,445
45	TAMAYO, Reginald B.	581,662
46	ALONTO, Zafrullah M.	571,694
47	ESPINOSA, Nanette M.	509,068
48	MAAMBONG, Regalado E.	452,054
49	DAVID, Rizalito Y.	422,457
50	ALBANI, Shariff Ibrahim H.	401,080
51	VIRGINES, Israel N.	389,737
52	PAREDES, Zosimo Jesus II M.	375,077
53	SISON, Adrian O.	355,908
54	PRINCESA, Reynaldo R.	311,283
55	IMBONG, Jo Aurea M.	304,828
56	NIKABULIN, Adz G.	293,321
57	CAUNAN, Henry B.	201,789
58	VALDEHUESA, Manuel Jr E.	171,260
59	TARRAZONA, Hector M.	141,587
60	RIÑOZA-PLAZO, Maria Gracia D.	130,163
61	LOOD, Alma A.	107,175

Comelec's Partial Resut for Senatoriables

Incumbent and re-electionist senators were dominating the senatorial elections with only two or three new faces likely to make it in the top 12 winning senators, based on the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) partial tally released on Monday evening.

Similar to the pre-election senatorial survey results of Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations, the Comelec's partial tally had incumbents Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. of Lakas-Kampi and Jinggoy Estrada as the top 2 senators in the 2010 senatorial elections.

The list, announced by Comelec chair Jose Melo, was based on the partial and unofficial tally of 57% of votes cast in 76,300 polling precincts nationwide.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late former President, was at 7th place.

Liberal Party senatorial bets Teofisto "TG" Guingona (12th), Risa Hontiveros (13th), and Ruffino Biazon (14th), all incumbent congressmen, could make it to the top 12.

The Comelec partial tally for senators had these results:

1. RAMON REVILLA JR. 11,622,707 52.65%
2. JINGGOY ESTRADA 11,577,545 52.45%
3. MIRIAM DEFENSOR 10,664,143 48.31%
4. FRANKLIN DRILON 9,777,874 44.29%
5. J. PONCE ENRILE 9,673,563 43.82%
6. PIA CAYETANO 8,496,807 38.49%
7. FERDINAND MARCOS 8,349,399 37.82%
8. RALPH RECTO 7,588,912 34.38%
9. VICENTE SOTTO III 7,435186 33.68%
10. SERGIO OSMEÑA 7,055021 31.96%
11. MANUEL LAPID 6,547,022 29.66%
12. TG GUINGONA 6,349,249 28.76%
13. RISA HONTIVEROS 5,746,130 26.03%
14. RUFFINO BIAZON 5,375,657 24.35%
15. JOEY DE VENECIA 5,165,124 23.40%
16. GILBERT REMULLA 4,695,661 21.27%
17. DANNY LIM 4,592207 20.80%
18. SONIA ROCO 4,154,386 18.82%
19. ARIEL QUERUBIN 4,088669 18.52%
20. GWEN PIMENTEL 3,778,893 17.11%
21. NEREUS ACOSTA 3,577,222 16.20%
22. ALEX LACSON 3,117843 14.12%
23. ADEL TAMANO 2,474,286 11.20%
24. LIZA MAZA 2,369,680 10.73%

Initial Result for Top 15 Senators

The following are the top 15 senatorial candidates from the initial count of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting:

1. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. - 173,054
2. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada - 150,587
3. Miriam Defensor-Santiago - 120, 683
4. Juan Ponce Enrile - 115,274
5. Lito Lapid - 104,527
6. Franklin Drilon - 103,151
7. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos - 95,567
8. Pia Cayetano - 90,521
9. Ralph Recto - 88457
10. Vicente Sotto III - 75.819
11. Sergio Osmena - 75050
12. Teofisto “Tito” Guingona III - 67263
13. Joey De Venecia - 55,942
14. Ruffy Biazon - 54,010
15. Gwendelyn Pimentel - 51,673


Data for the president, vice president, and senatorial candidates came from 2,214, 129 voters who voted as of 7:16 p.m.

List of Official Candidates for Senator

Here is the initial list of Senatorial Candidates running for the 2010 Elections

1. Nereus Acosta Jr. - LP
2. Sharuff Ibrahim Albani - KBL
3. Zafrullah Alonto - Bangon Pilipinas
4. Ana Theresia Baraquel - LP
5. JV Larion Bautista - PMP
6. Martin Bautista - LP
7. Silvestre Bello III - Lakas-Kampi-CMD
8. Rozzano Rufino Biazon - LP
9. Bong Revilla - Lakas-Kampi-CMD
10. Henry Caunan - PDP-Laban
11. Pia Cayetano - NP
12. Rizalito David - Ang Kapatiran
13. Joey De Venecia - PMP
14. Miriam Defensor Santiago - People's Reform Party
15. Franklin Drilon - LP
16. Juan Ponce Enrile - PMP
17. Jinggoy Estrada - PMP
18. Ramon Guico - Lakas-Kampi-CMD
19. Teofisto Guingona III - LP
20. Jo Aurea Imbong - Ang Kapatiran
21. Kata Inocencio - Bangon Pilipinas
22. Alexander Lacson - LP
23. Raul Lambino - Lakas-Kampi-CMD
24. Rey Langit - Lakas-Kampi-CMD
25. Yasmin Lao - LP
26. Lito Lapid - Lakas-Kampi/Command
27. Alma Lood - KBL
28. Apolinario Lozada - PMP
29. Regalado Maambong - KBL
30. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr - NP
31. Liza Maza - Independent
32. Ma Judea Millora - KBL
33. Ramon Mitra - NP
34. Ramoncito Ocampo - Bangon Pilipinas
35. Satur Ocampo - Bayan Muna Party
36. Susan Ople - NP
37. Sergio Osmeña III - Independent
38. Jovito Palparan Jr. - Independent
39. Imelda Papin - KBL
40. Zosimo Paredes - Ang Kapatiran
41. Gwendolyn Pimentel - PDP Laban
42. Rodolfo Plaza - NPC
43. Reynaldo Princesa - Bangon Pilipinas
44. Ariel Querubin - NP
45. Ralph Recto - LP
46. Gilbert Remulla - NP
47. Ma. Gracia Riñoza-Plazo - Ang Kapatiran
48. Sonia Roco - LP
49. Adrian Sison - Ang Kapatiran
50. Vicente Sotto III - NPC
51. Adel Tamano - NP
52. Reginald Tamayo - Ang Kapatiran
53. Hector Tarrazona - Ang Kapatiran
54. Francisco Tatad - Grand Alliance For Democracy/Gabaybayan
55. Alexander Tinsay - Bangon Pilipinas
56. Manuel Valdehuesa Jr. - Ang Kapatiran
57. Hector Villanueva - KBL
58. Israel Virgines - Bangon Pilipinas

One Cebu backs Pia; Risa admits her campaign needs fund boost

WHILE Nacionalista Party (NP) senatorial candidate Pia Cayetano secured the endorsement of the administration One Cebu party, another female senatorial candidate is having a tough time raising funds for her campaign.

Former Akbayan partylist lawmaker and Liberal Party (LP) senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros said she and some friends had to raise money to pay for her political advertisements.

“Whatever money we raise, we spend it for the placement of ads,” said Hontiveros, a widow and mother of four.

Hontiveros told last Wednesday that she had to work harder to raise her profile since the senatorial surveys show her ranking in the 19th to 20th spot.

She later attended a fund-raiser dinner at a Cebu City hotel.

“We have to make it known to the people that I am seeking election and I'm confident that survey ratings would change,” she said.

If elected, Hontiveros would be the third woman senator aside from Cayetano and Sen. Miriam Santiago.

Both Cayetano and Santiago are running under the NP.

Hontiveros, who ran for three terms under Akbayan in Congress, said she is running under the LP because she believes in their cause.

Hontiveros said if she is elected, she would work to enact laws instituting programs for promoting women and children's rights.

She said she would also re-file the Reproductive Health Bill to provide easy access for women in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Hontiveros also said she would work to strengthen the partylist system in order to give more representation to the marginalized sectors.

“I think both Cebu City and Cebu province are interested to promote this framework,” Hontiveros said.

In yesterday's press conference, One Cebu chairperson and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia cited their close family ties with Cayetano and the senator’s role as advocate of women and children's rights as reason behind her inclusion in the party's endorsed senatorial lineup. Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Dale G. Israel

ABS-CBN Harapan: Senatorial Bets Debate

Six important national issues will be debated upon by senatorial candidates from different political parties on “Harapan: Mga Isyu ng Bayan” this Sunday (April 18), 10:30pm on ABS-CBN live from La Consolacion College in Manila.

ABS-CBN news anchor Ted Failon will moderate the event, which will be the first time senatorial bets go head to head on pressing issues in the country such as human rights, justice and accountability, health, economy, poverty, the incoming leadership, and the roles of the Church and the State.

Satur Ocampo (Nacionalista Party) and independent candidate Gen. Jovito Palparan will debate on human rights, Adel Tamano (Nacionalista Party) and Silvestre Bello (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) will face-off on justice, Riza Hontiveros-Baraquel (LP) and Kit Tatad (PMP) will tackle reproductive health, Liza Masa (NP) and Neric Acosta (LP) will trade points on poverty, Raul Lambino (Lakas) and JV Bautista (Partido ng Masang Pilipino) will go one-on-one on the challenges to the new government, while Kata Inocencio (Bangon Pilipinas) will debate Jo Imbong (Ang Kapatiran Party) on the responsibilities of the government and the Church.

Viewers from around the world may participate in the debate through popular social-networking sites Twitter
and Facebook, and the online chat at www.abs-cbnnews.com, which will be participated in by the candidates’ representatives and other bloggers.

ABS-CBN will also use the Wireless Audience Response System (WARS) once again to show how much a field of respondents from all over the Philippines believe or do not believe the candidates’ answers.

“Harapan: Mga Isyu ng Bayan,” is part of a series of election specials produced by ABS-CBN that enable viewers to get to know the candidates to different government posts. It follows the much-talked about “Harapan: The Vice Presidential Debate” last March 21, which marked the first time vice presidential candidates engaged in a real debate and also the first time that WARS was used in the country.

ABS-CBN, meanwhile, has been organizing and broadcasting political fora since May 2009 through its different media platforms from free TV (ABS-CBN channel 2), to cable (ANC), radio, (DZMM), and the Internet (www.abs-cbnnews.com) to help Filipinos decide on the coming May 10 national elections.

Find out which senatorial candidate will win the public’s belief and trust on “Harapan: Mga Isyu ng Bayan” with Ted Failon this Sunday (Apr 18), 10:30pm live on ABS-CBN with replays on (ANC SkyCable channel 27) on April 19 at 6am, April 24 at 10am and April 25 at 1pm.

You can watch it online streaming at Pinoy TV Channel.

Joey de Venecia’s dream: A computer in every home

While most candidates bat for food on the table, one-time national broadband network proponent and now opposition senatorial bet Jose de Venecia III dreams of a computer for every Filipino home.

If elected to the Senate, De Venecia said he would work for government-subsidized and Internet-connected computers particularly for the poor.

“It’s a way to remove the gap between the rich and the poor,” he told the Inquirer over the phone.

De Venecia said personal computers were necessary household appliances like televisions, radios and electric fans. Computers could put food on the table, he said, and having Internet access is like having books to read.

“In many countries in the West, home-based call centers have provided employment to millions. Why not here in the Philippines?” he said. “Our high school and college students can access a wealth of information by going online. They do not have to buy books or spend hours doing research in libraries if they can do it at home.”

De Venecia, who claims to be the pioneer of the Philippine call center industry, said the sector now employs 600,000 workers and could employ much more through home-based call centers similar to those in the United States and other countries.

“Furthermore, Internet-connected PCs are the best way for families of overseas Filipino workers to stay in touch. They can talk through Skype, or Chat, or Twitter every day. This was unthinkable a mere decade ago,” he said.

De Venecia said a computers-for-families program has been started in a poor country like Uganda with the use of hundred-dollar (roughly P5,000-worth) laptops from Taiwan.

He said the cheap laptop could handle the requirements of a home-based call center or for the much-needed link between the Filipino migrant worker and his family.

“Once you have Internet access, that’s all you need. Everything can be done over the Internet,” De Venecia said, referring to the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) necessary for telephone communications.

He said the cost of P50 billion for 10 million laptops for many families could go down to as low as P35 billion with financial assistance from foundations of information technology companies like Microsoft and Oracle.

“Internet access wouldn’t be for free so we would be using the Internet service of telcos (telecommunication companies). They can also add to the subsidy,” De Venecia said.

The remainder of the cost, he added, could be sourced from a government loan.

“That would be part of the expenditures for education. The benefits would be exponential,” he said.

“The NBN-ZTE deal, in comparison, already costs P16 billion,” De Venecia said.

He said more than half of the contract cost of the national broadband deal with the Chinese firm ZTE would have gone to kickbacks.

De Venecia exposed the controversial contract in 2007 and linked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo to the contract.

Senatoriables Latest SWS Survey

Reelectionist senators continued to dominate the Senate races, with only one new name entering the “Magic 12” of possible senatorial winners, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the private polling firm Social Weather Stations last week.

Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (53 percent) and Jinggoy Ejercito-Estrada (52 percent) were ahead of the pack.

Following them were Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago (44 percent), Pia Cayetano (42 percent), former Sen. Franklin Drilon (36 percent), Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile (35 percent), and former Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (33 percent).

Former Sen. Ralph Recto and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. were ranked 8th-9th with 30 percent.

They were described by the report as “clearly above 13th place.”

Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid was ranked 10th with 26 percent while former Sen. Sergio Osmeña III was 11th with 25 percent.

Entering the Magic 12 at 12th place was Gilbert Remulla, Nacionalista Party spokesperson and former Cavite congressman, with 24 percent.

“Remulla, who was 18th a month ago with just 14 percent, displaced PDP-Laban senatorial candidate Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, daughter of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.,” BusinessWorld said in its report published Monday.

“The top nine candidates and Osmeña have always been in the winning circle since the SWS survey of Dec. 5-10, 2009,” the report said.

Following the Top 12 were Pimentel (23 percent), and Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III (21 percent).

Also cited in the report were businessman Jose “Joey” de Venecia III (19 percent), and Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon (18 percent).

The survey was conducted from March 19 to 22 with 2,100 registered voters as respondents. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.

Magic 12: Latest Senatoriable Survey

Sen. Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr. topped the “Magic 12" list with 49 percent, followed by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago with 47 percent and Senate Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada, 45 percent.

Tied at the fourth and fifth place, meanwhile, were Sen. Pia Cayetano and former National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) chief Ralph Recto, who both got 44 percent.

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Tied at the sixth and seventh place were former Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Vicente “Tito" Sotto III and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr. with 39 percent.

Sen. Lito Lapid, meanwhile, was tied with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile at eighth and ninth place with 35 percent, while former Senate President Franklin Drilon was at 10th place with 33 percent.

Completing the list were former Sen. Serge Osmeña III at 11th place with 31 percent, and Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto “TG" Guingona III at 12th with 28 percent.

The survey was conducted from March 3 to 10 and involved 2,400 respondents.

Pulse Asia Latest Senatoriable Survey: Bong, Jinggoy, Miriam top Senate race

If the May 10 senatorial elections were held today, re-electionist senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and Miriam Defensor-Santiago would top the race, results of the latest Pulse Asia survey revealed Tuesday.

The survey, conducted last February 21-25, showed Revilla getting 53.6% of votes, which translates to a statistical ranking of 1st to 3rd place. He is in a statistical tie with Estrada, who got 52.6% of the votes in the survey.
Defensor-Santiago could also top the Senate race with 49.4%, which places her at ranks 1st to 5th.

Fourth on the list is another re-electionist senator, Sen. Pilar Juliana "Pia" S. Cayetano (45.4%), who is ranked 3rd to 6th. She shares the same statistical ranking as former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, with 45%.

Incumbent Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, meanwhile, has a statistical ranking of 4th to 6th with 43.8%.

Former senator Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III, meanwhile, remained in the winners' circle with 33.2%, for a statistical ranking of 7th to 9th. He is followed by former senator and former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ralph G. Recto at 33.1%.

Former senator Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III (29.1%), Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (28.2%), re-electionist Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid (25.8%), Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto "TG" Guingona III (24.3%), businessman Jose "Joey" De Venecia III (23.5%) and Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino "Ruffy" Biazon (22.7%) complete the list of likely senatorial winners.

Pulse Asia said former senators Sotto, Recto and Osmeña and Rep. Marcos would have joined the winning circle of 12 senators if the elections were held at the time of the survey. Their poorest possible showing, statistically speaking, is 9th place for the first two former senators, 11th for former Sen. Osmeña and 12th for Rep. Marcos.
On the other hand, the senatorial bids of Sen. Lapid, Rep. Guingona, Mr. de Venecia and Rep. Biazon are more vulnerable as they could land outside of the winning circle, their worst statistical ranking being in the range of 14th to 16th.

The survey showed that at least 8.3% of registered voters do not express electoral support for any senatorial candidate, refuse to name their senatorial preferences or have yet to decide on the candidates they will vote for. 

Meanwhile, registered voters are naming a mean of seven and a median of eight (out of a maximum of 12) senatorial candidates.

Among the probable winners, Defensor-Santiago registered the biggest improvement in voter support (+8.2 percentage points) during the approximately one-month period between the January and February 2010 surveys. Other candidates registering significant improvements in voter preferences are independent candidate Atty. Gwendolyn "Gwen" D. Pimentel (+11.4 percentage points), former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Cesar "Gilbert" C. Remulla (+10.5 percentage points) and Akbayan party-list Rep. Ana Theresia "Risa Hontiveros" H. Hontiveros-Baraquel (+5.8 percentage points).
The only candidate posting a significant decline in voter support is Atty. Alexander "Pinoy" L. Lacson (-10.9 percentage points).

The survey was conducted from February 21 to 25, 2010 using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 representative adults 18 years old and above. Pulse Asia's nationwide survey has a +/- 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level.

Pulse Asia January 2010 Pre-Election Result for Senators

Currently leading the senatorial race is Senator Revilla whose overall voter preference of 51.9% translates to a statistical ranking of 1st to 2nd places, putting him in a virtual tie with Senator Estrada (50.4%), who is ranked 1st to 3rd. Meanwhile, Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano (46.8%) is ranked 2nd to 4th, slightly ahead of former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (43.2%) who ranks 3rd to 6th. Tied from 4th to 6th places are Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (41.2%) and incumbent Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (39.7%).

Completing the list of probable winners are former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ralph G. Recto (34.4%), former Senators Sergio R. Osmeña III (31.6%) and Vicente C. Sotto III (30.5%), Senator Manuel M. Lapid (29.7%), Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (26.3%), and Mr. Jose P. de Venecia III (24%).

Within striking distance of a senatorial seat are Muntinlupa Representative Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (19.8%), Bukidnon Representative Teofisto D. Guingona III (19.7%), and Atty. Alexander L. Lacson (19.1%) – all of whom are ranked 13th to 15th. Atty. Lacson, contrary to previous trends in pre-election voting preferences, is practically making it despite a very low awareness level (33%). In the meantime, about one in ten Filipinos (10.9%) does not express support for any of the senatorial candidates for the May 2010 elections – much higher than the December 2009 figure (3.4%), possibly due to the use of a sample ballot listing 62 names for the senatorial race.

Only two senatorial candidates enjoy improvements in their voter preference during the period December 2009 and January 2010 - Senator Lapid (+6.6 percentage points) and AKBAYAN Party List Representative Anna Theresia H. Hontiveros-Baraquel (+6.2 percentage points). The latter, who is currently ranked 17th to 25th with an overall voter preference of 11.0%, appears to have benefited much from being included in this survey with the addition of “Hontiveros” to her proffered name, an electoral privilege she had to gain from the COMELEC.

In contrast, support levels for several senatorial candidates decline during this period, with the biggest drop being recorded by Senator Defensor-Santiago (-10.2 percentage points), possibly due to the use of a sample ballot. The others who experience a decline in voter preference between December 2009 and January 2010 are former Senate President Drilon (-5.2 percentage points), former Senator Francisco S. Tatad (-6.5 percentage points), Atty. Gwendolyn D. Pimentel (-6.5 percentage points), former Senator Osmeña (-8.6 percentage points), former NEDA Director General Recto (-8.7 percentage points), Bukidnon Representative Guingona (-8.8 percentage points), and former Senator Sotto (-9.7 percentage points).

Several changes in statistical ranking are also recorded between December 2009 and January 2010. Among the probable winners, Senator Lapid registers the biggest improvement as he now ranks 8th to 11th, up from 12th to 14th in January 2010. The others whose statistical ranking improve during this period are Senator Revilla (from 1st-4th to 1st-2nd), Senator Cayetano (from 5th-9th to 2nd-4th), Senate President Enrile (from 5th-9th to 4th-6th), and Mr. de Venecia (from 12th-14th to 11th-12th). On the other hand, the most pronounced decline in statistical ranking is recorded by Senator Defensor-Santiago – from 1st to 4th in December 2009 to 4th to 6th at present. Additionally, the statistical rankings of the following also decline during this period – former Senate President Drilon (from 2nd-4th to 3rd-6th), former NEDA Director-General Recto (from 5th-9th to 7th-9th), and former Senators Osmeña and Sotto (from 5th-9th to 7th-10th). (See Table 2a and 2b —Comparative Senatorial Preference).


Source: Pulse Asia

Serge Osmeña back in Aquino camp, in Recto’s team

Indeed, politics breeds strange bedfellows. Former Senators Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III and Ralph Recto aren’t exactly on speaking terms, but the two could find themselves in the same boat in their campaign for reelection on May 10.

The Liberal Party (LP) has split its senatorial ticket into two six-member teams to ensure maximum presence in 80 provinces in the 90-day campaign period.

LP leaders, however, have surprisingly lumped Osmeña and Recto, who genuinely hate each other, in the same team.

Recto has been designated as point man of the antipoverty team with Osmeña under his wing. Former Senate President Franklin Drilon is head of the anticorruption team.

“I have no problem being with him on the same boat, I’m a team player,” Recto said in a phone interview. Recto reckoned that he was picked because of his economic expertise to head the ticket’s antipoverty team.

In a phone interview, Osmeña, one of the key political strategists in the early campaign for president of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas, said he was going solo on his senatorial bid just like he did in 2001.

“Traveling alone means traveling faster. But I am campaigning for Noynoy and Mar and a mix of senators. Don’t ask me who,” he said.

Grouping based on advocacy

Recto and Osmeña have yet to talk to each other since Osmeña decided to decamp last November because he did not agree with the party leaders’ decision to accept Recto, a former director general of the National Economic and Development Authority in the Arroyo administration.

Recto steered the passage of the value-added tax law that doomed his reelection bid in 2007 under the administration senatorial Team Unity.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, LP senatorial campaign manager, does not see any kinks in the grouping as Osmeña has already been allowed to campaign separately as a guest candidate.

Pangilinan stressed that the grouping was based on the candidates’ advocacy.

“We believe that corruption and poverty are the two key issues of the 2010 campaign,” said Pangilinan who aimed to bring the LP’s message to the remotest places in the country.

Members of the anticorruption team are Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros, retired Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim (represented by his wife), lawyer Alexander “Pinoy” Lacson and women’s right advocate Jasmin Busra-Lao.

With Recto and Osmeña in the antipoverty team are former Bukidnon Rep Neric Acosta, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Sonia Roco and Dr. Martin Bautista.

Pulse Asia's January 2010 Pre-election Survey for Senatorial elections

Currently leading the senatorial race is Senator Revilla whose overall voter preference of 51.9% translates to a statistical ranking of 1st to 2nd places, putting him in a virtual tie with Senator Estrada (50.4%), who is ranked 1st to 3rd. Meanwhile, Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano (46.8%) is ranked 2nd to 4th, slightly ahead of former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon (43.2%) who ranks 3rd to 6th. Tied from 4th to 6th places are Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (41.2%) and incumbent Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (39.7%).

Completing the list of probable winners are former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ralph G. Recto (34.4%), former Senators Sergio R. Osmeña III (31.6%) and Vicente C. Sotto III (30.5%), Senator Manuel M. Lapid (29.7%), Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (26.3%), and Mr. Jose P. de Venecia III (24%).

Within striking distance of a senatorial seat are Muntinlupa Representative Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (19.8%), Bukidnon Representative Teofisto D. Guingona III (19.7%), and Atty. Alexander L. Lacson (19.1%) – all of whom are ranked 13th to 15th. Atty. Lacson, contrary to previous trends in pre-election voting preferences, is practically making it despite a very low awareness level (33%). In the meantime, about one in ten Filipinos (10.9%) does not express support for any of the senatorial candidates for the May 2010 elections – much higher than the December 2009 figure (3.4%), possibly due to the use of a sample ballot listing 62 names for the senatorial race.

Only two senatorial candidates enjoy improvements in their voter preference during the period December 2009 and January 2010 - Senator Lapid (+6.6 percentage points) and AKBAYAN Party List Representative Anna Theresia H. Hontiveros-Baraquel (+6.2 percentage points). The latter, who is currently ranked 17th to 25th with an overall voter preference of 11.0%, appears to have benefited much from being included in this survey with the addition of “Hontiveros” to her proffered name, an electoral privilege she had to gain from the COMELEC.

In contrast, support levels for several senatorial candidates decline during this period, with the biggest drop being recorded by Senator Defensor-Santiago (-10.2 percentage points), possibly due to the use of a sample ballot. The others who experience a decline in voter preference between December 2009 and January 2010 are former Senate President Drilon (-5.2 percentage points), former Senator Francisco S. Tatad (-6.5 percentage points), Atty. Gwendolyn D. Pimentel (-6.5 percentage points), former Senator Osmeña (-8.6 percentage points), former NEDA Director General Recto (-8.7 percentage points), Bukidnon Representative Guingona (-8.8 percentage points), and former Senator Sotto (-9.7 percentage points).

Several changes in statistical ranking are also recorded between December 2009 and January 2010. Among the probable winners, Senator Lapid registers the biggest improvement as he now ranks 8th to 11th, up from 12th to 14th in January 2010. The others whose statistical ranking improve during this period are Senator Revilla (from 1st-4th to 1st-2nd), Senator Cayetano (from 5th-9th to 2nd-4th), Senate President Enrile (from 5th-9th to 4th-6th), and Mr. de Venecia (from 12th-14th to 11th-12th). On the other hand, the most pronounced decline in statistical ranking is recorded by Senator Defensor-Santiago – from 1st to 4th in December 2009 to 4th to 6th at present. Additionally, the statistical rankings of the following also decline during this period – former Senate President Drilon (from 2nd-4th to 3rd-6th), former NEDA Director-General Recto (from 5th-9th to 7th-9th), and former Senators Osmeña and Sotto (from 5th-9th to 7th-10th).

Pulse Asia Pre-Election Survey Top 12 Senatoriables

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada leads the senatoriables in the latest Pulse Asia Pre-Election Survey, with 55.1 percent of respondents saying they would include him in their senatorial line-up if the elections were held today.

This rating gives him a statistical ranking of first to third in the senatorial race, according to the polling outfit.

In the survey, respondents were made to choose 12 out of 80 names for their senatorial preferences. Results show that only 14 candidates included in the senatorial survey have a statistical chance of winning, said Pulse Asia in its media release on Monday.

Following Estrada is Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. (52.7 percent) and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (51.4 percent), both with a statistical ranking of first to fourth, said Pulse Asia.

Franklin Drilon (48.4 percent) is at second to fourth places, while tied at the fifth to ninth places are Sen. Pia Cayetano (43.1 percent), Ralph Recto (43.1 percent), Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (42.7 percent) and former senators Sergio Osmeña and Vicente Sotto III (both at 40.2 percent).

Also, statistically tied at the 10th to 11th positions are Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (31 percent) and Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III (28.6 percent).

Rounding up the list of probable winners are Jose de Venecia III (24.3 percent), Sen. Manuel "Lito” Lapid (23.1 percent) and Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon (22.9 percent), who are all tied at 12th to 14th places.

The non-commissioned survey was conducted from Dec. 8-10, 2009 using face-to-face interviews with 1,800 respondents nationwide. It has a margin of error of plus-minus 2 percent.