SENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III said Friday he does not want to feel confident yet that he will win re-election amid his inclusion in the latest Pulse Asia survey.
“Everybody should be running scared. Even we re-electionists are running scared,” he said.
The Senate leader was in fifth to ninth place with 39.8 percent in the Pulse Asia survey released Friday.
While happy with the result, Pimentel said everything is still fluid as far as the May 2019 senatorial polls is concerned.
“It’s okay even in the fifth to ninth place. What is important, I was included. At any rate that survey was taken late March, and that’s a long way from the election. Many things can change,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
He said the survey respondents are just answering based on the list given to them and their choices can still change.
The survey conducted from March 23 to 28 showed 57 percent of the 1,200 adult respondents have chosen their candidates for the May 2019 senatorial elections.
Senator JV Ejercito said having a sibling running simultaneously will definitely be a tough challenge.
The senator, son of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, was referring to former senator Jinggoy Estrada, who declared his intention to run again for senator in the coming midterm elections.
“Hoping that performance, track record and clean, unblemished record as a public official will help pull it through,” he said.
Senator Juan Edgardo Angara thanked the public for their continued trust and confidence in him.
He said the latest survey result is a snapshot of how people perceive their preferred candidates.
“This, however, shall not distract us from pursuing meaningful reforms that our countrymen truly deserve,” he said.
Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV was the only member of the opposition within the top 12 in the senatorial race in Pulse Asia’s survey, which was conducted from March 23 to 28.
Aquino underscored the need for an opposition coalition that is willing to stand and oppose government policies that are detrimental to the welfare of the Filipino people.
Senator Francis Pangilinan emphasized the importance of the opposition’s role in the country even as he welcomed Aquino’s inclusion as the lone opposition in the top 12 of the Pulse Asia survey.
The respondents were asked to choose their 12 candidates from a list of 58 names. Of the number, 15 have statistical chances of winning.
Leading the May 2019 senatorial race with a statistical ranking of solo first place was Senator Grace Poe, followed by Senator Cynthia Villar, Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano, Senator Nancy Binay, Angara, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio. With PNA
Other probable winners were former Senator Sergio Osmeña, Erwin Tulfo, former Senator Lito Lapid, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Aquino, and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito.
Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, meanwhile, expressed deep appreciation for Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee first vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar’s “genuinely heartwarming” support for his possible senatorial bid.
Go, however, clarified that he has yet to decide whether to throw his hat into the political ring as he has to serve President Rodrigo R. Duterte first.
“There are still many things I have to do for the President and the people,” Go said.
“Honestly, I have yet to decide if I would join the midterm elections. But the support you have assured is genuinely heartwarming and very encouraging,” he added.
Jaafar earlier said he would support the President’s most-trusted aide if he decides to run for senator in next year’s polls.
Jaafar, also chairman of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, hailed Go as “a man of integrity and competence,” being one of the most trusted men of Duterte.