Tulfo tops Senate hopefuls survey

Only one out of the eight senatorial bets endorsed by President Duterte in the coming 2022 national elections made it to the so-called “Magic 12” in a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations that was topped by broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo.

The survey, commissioned by Stratbase ADR Institute Inc., found that 57 percent of adult Filipino respondents picked Tulfo as their top senatorial candidate, followed by comebacking senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda in second and third place, respectively.

Of the eight administration bets, only former Public Works secretary Mark Villar was included in the preferred senatorial candidate for the 2022 polls, while five incumbent senators made it into the “Magic 12.”

Aside from  Escudero, Legarda and Villar -- who all  got 41 percent and were statistically tied -- Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano placed fifth with 38 percent followed by  Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri at sixth place with 34 percent, and former senator Jinggoy Estrada at seventh place with 29 percent.

The survey also listed senator Francisco Pangilinan, who is vying for the vice presidency in the 2022 polls and ranked eighth with 28 percent, while TV host and comedian Willie Revillame, who is not running, and Senator Risa Hontiveros were statistically tied with 25 percent each.

Other possible senatorial winners are reelectionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Duterte administration critic Sen.  Richard Gordon who received 21 percent for the 11th and 12th place, respectively.

The survey was conducted from September 12 to 16, 2021, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide.