Loren leads in Pulse Asia survey

Former Senator Loren Legarda topped the nationwide senatorial preference survey conducted by Pulse Asia from February 28 to March 5, with 56.8 percent of the votes cast by 1,800 respondents.

"I am very happy and I take this survey result as an affirmation from the people for me to continue what I have been doing," Loren said. "But I'll do better than what's expected of me if I'm elected anew to the Senate for I have not and will never let the Filipino people down."

Loren's fellow candidate from the Genuine Opposition, Panfilo Lacson placed second in the latest Pulse Asia survey with 41.1 percent. Running third to fifth were independent candidate Francis Pangilinan with 39.4 percent, GO candidate Francis Escudero with 35.5 percent and administration bet Ralph Recto with 35.2 percent.

Elected no. 1 senator in 1998 with over 15 million votes, Loren has a 15.7-point spread over Lacson and a 17.4-point margin over Pangilinan.

"To say that I'm overwhelmed by this survey result is an understatement. This will inspire me further to reach out to as many of our kababayans, as what is physically possible, with what's left of the campaign period," Loren said.

Placing sixth to 12th were Manny Villar (35.0%), Joker Arroyo (34.5%), Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino (34.2%), Edgardo Angara ( 32.1%), Alan Peter Cayetano (30.9%), Gringo Honasan (27.3%) and Vicente Sotto (25.4%).

The first female to serve as majority floor leader of the Senate, Loren also topped a Malacañang-commissioned senatorial survey held from February 24 to 27 with 1,500 respondents from 300 barangays nationwide.