10 Marcos-backed senatorial aspirants in winning circle of SWS survey

SWS SURVEY. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. introduces the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate slate at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Thursday (Sept. 26, 2024). —PNA photo/Ruth Abbey Carlos

MANILA, Philippines (PNA) – Ten out of 12 administration-backed senatorial aspirants for the 2025 midterm elections secured the top spots in the latest senatorial preference survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The September 14 to 23 survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group, showed that ACT-CIS Party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo maintained his number one position with 54 percent voter preference.

Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III ranked second with 34 percent, while Senator Pia Cayetano followed closely in third place with 31 percent.

Tied in the fourth to fifth positions were Senator Imee Marcos, the President’s sister; and former President Rodrigo Duterte, both receiving 25 percent of voter preference.

Other administration-endorsed candidates in the top ranks include former Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who tied for the sixth to seventh spots with 24 percent each.

Completing the top 12 senatorial aspirants backed by the administration were Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar (21 percent), Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay (20 percent), Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid (20 percent), and former Senator Manny Pacquiao (18 percent).

Sharing the 11th to 13th place with Pacquiao were senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. and Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, who are members of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), were the only administration-backed senatorial aspirants who did not make it in the winning circle of the SWS September survey.

Among the biggest gainers were Binay, Abalos, former Senators Bam Aquino, Gringo Honasan, and television host Willie Revillame, among others.

The mayor previously ranked 16th in the March survey conducted from September 14 to 23 and posted on the SWS website.

“There’s more work to be done, and for now I am grateful for the support. I would also like to reiterate my thanks to President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for believing in me and endorsing my candidacy under the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” Binay said.

Meanwhile Abalos and Aquino climbed from 31st to 34th and 29th to 30th places to 16th-7th spot.

The commissioned survey involved face-to-face interviews with 1,500 respondents nationwide, representing key areas including Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The SWS survey has a national sampling error margin of ±2.5% and higher margins for sub-national areas.

The Stratbase Group commissioned this survey to gauge voter sentiment ahead of the election season.

Below are senatorial aspirants SWS included in the survey listed based on alphabetical order:

• Abalos, Benjamin “Benhur” – 1
• Adonis, Jerome – 2
• Andamo, Jocelyn – 3
• Aquino, Bam – 4
• Arambulo, Ronnel – 5
• Bautista, Herbert – 6
• Binay, Abigail – 7
• Brosas, Arlene – 8
• Casiño, Teddy – 9
• Castro, France – 10
• Cayetano, Pia – 11
• Colmenares, Neri – 12
• Dela Rosa, Ronald “Bato” – 13
• Diokno, Jose Manuel “Chel” – 14
• Doringo, Mimi – 15
• Drilon, Franklin “Frank” – 16
• Duterte, Rodrigo “Digong” – 17
• Floranda, Mody – 18
• Go, Christopher “Bong Go” – 19
• Gordon, Richard “Dick” – 20
• Honasan, Gregorio “Gringo” – 21
• Lacson, Panfilo “Ping” – 22
• Lapid, Manuel “Lito” – 23
• Marcos, Imee – 24
• Maza, Liza – 25
• Pacquiao, Emmanuel “Manny” – 26
• Pangilinan, Francis “Kiko” – 27
• Querubin, Ariel – 28
• Ramos, Danilo – 29
• Revilla, Ramon “Bong” Jr – 30
• Revillame, Willie “Kuya Wil” – 31
• Robredo, Maria Leonor “Leni” – 32
• Roque, Harry “Spox” – 33
• Salvador, Philip – 34
• Singson, Luis “Chavit” – 35
• Sotto, Vicente “Tito” – 36
• Teodoro, Gilbert “Gibo” – 37
• Tolentino, Francis “Tol” – 38
• Tulfo, Erwin – 39
• Villar, Camille – 40

• Don’t Know – 98
• None – 95
• Refused/Can’t Answer – 99

Meanwhile, President Marcos has vouched for the competence of his preferred senatorial candidates, saying they would help him achieve his goals for the country.

He expressed hope that the Filipino electorate would vote for them, as he guaranteed that the administration’s lineup would stand up for Filipinos’ interests, welfare, and rights.

“Ito ay isang kilusang bayan na magbubuklod sa pinakamalawak na puwersa ng mga nagmamahal sa Inang Bayan, na ikakampanya ang isang programang pangkaunlaran na walang naiiwanan, na pagsasamahin ang 12 magigiting na Pilipino na may taglay na sipag at galing para maging pinuno,” he said.

(It is a people’s movement that will unite the broadest force of those who love the motherland; that will campaign a development program that leaves no one behind; that will unite 12 brave Filipinos with diligence and competence to be leaders.)