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Former senator and presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos tops latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on presidential candidate in the May 2022 national and local elections.

The SWS survey conducted last October 20-23 with 1,200 respondents shows Marcos got 47 percent followed by Vice President Leni Robredo, with 18 percent.

On the third spot is Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, with 13 percent. Sen. Manny Pacquiao placed 4th with 9 percent, while Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa tied at the 5th spot with 5 percent each.

Leody De Guzman, another presidential contender, was not included in the survey.

Three percent of respondents said they were still “undecided” on who to vote for president in next year’s elections.

Atty. Vic Rodriguez, chief of staff of Marcos, said in a statement that the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard bearer is “humbled” by the results, and will remain focused on taking the country out of the pandemic.

Marcos’ candidacy is being questioned at the Commission on Elections over his tax evasion conviction in 1995.

Lacson, Partido Reporma’s standard bearer, said he is “not distracted” by his recent survey performance.

“I’m not affected at all. I am being honest,” he said in a television interview.

“I pay more attention on the efforts of our people on the ground. I pay more attention on studying the solutions to the humongous problems we have right now,” he said.

“Baka magkaroon kami ng ilang adjustments sa aming communication strategy… Laging issue-based kami… Yung iba may patawa, may halong TikTok,” he said.

The campaign team of Domagoso, Aksyon Demokratiko’s standard bearer, is also “unbothered” by the latest survey results.

“‘Yung mga boto ni Sara, nag-migrate lang kay BBM,” said Lito Banayo, the Manila Mayor’s campaign manager.

Meanwhile, Partido Lakas ng Masa presidential aspirant Leody De Guzman said it is expected that he is not included in the commissioned survey, but added that the recognition of his bid by the Filipino people is far more important.

“Iyan ay commissioned survey ng mga kandidato. Inaasahan na namin sa mga katunggali na hindi bibigyan ng pagkilala ang aking kandidatura dahil wala silang balak itaas ang diskurso sa eleksyon,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, if the national elections were held last month, radio host Raffy Tulfo would top the senatorial race, dominating over re-electionists, former senators and members of political clans. Sixty percent of respondents said they would vote for him.

Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero earned the second spot with 51 percent, while Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano placed third with 50 percent.

The 4th to 12th spots were occupied by the following:

4 – Antique Rep. Loren Legarda (45 percent)
5 – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri (44 percent)
6 – Former Vice President Jejomar Binay (40 percent)
6 – Public Works Secretary Mark Villar (40 percent)
8 – Sen. Risa Hontiveros (36 percent)
9 – Former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (33 percent)
10 – Actor Robin Padilla (29 percent)
11 – Broadcaster Noli De Castro (28 percent)
12 – Sen. Joel Villanueva (27 percent)

Former Sen. JV Estrada and Sen. Richard Gordon share the 13-14th rank, with 26 percent each, followed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, with 25 percent.

“We are a research policy institute. So we believe that as we enter the 2022 election, it’s best to understand who are the main players. And after the filing of candidacy last October 8, we partnered with SWS…based on official candidates filed, to check who are, what are the preferences of the Filipino people at this moment before the November 15 deadline,” Manhit said of their group’s commissioned survey.

“We wanted to contribute to the political discourse or the preferences of the Filipino people or the Filipino voters.”

Starbase ADR’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees is former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario who is also a convenor of 1Sambayan. The Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees is businessman Manny Pangilinan.

The rest of the board include other businessmen and academic people.