CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has a good showing in the latest senatorial survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS).
The survey, conducted from May 24 to 27, had involved 1,200 respondents nationwide. Garcia was not included in the previous SWS surveys.
Garcia placed 26th in latest SWS ranking while ranked 32nd among the 44 possible senatorial candidates in the May 20 to 26 survey of Pulse Asia.
The Pulse Asia survey had same number of respondents as the SWS.
In the two previous Pulse Asia surveys, Garcia was 45th on a list of 74 possible senatorial candidates.
Those surveys were conducted from February 26 to March 9, 2012 and in November 2011.
Garcia is the newest member of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) being considered in its 2013 senatorial slate.
In a statement, another UNA senatorial candidate, former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, claimed that the latest SWS survey shows that their slate has the potential to win, although it placed him at 10th place.
Like the recent Pulse Asia Survey, the SWS result also shows Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero topping the list followed by Senator Loren Legarda.
Battling for third and fourth places are Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Mar Roxas II.
Senator Gregorio Honasan and Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce ‘Jack’ Enrile Jr. are statistically tied at 5 to 6.
San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito is in 7th place, reelectionist Senator Antonio Trillanes IV ranked 8th, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is at 9th place and Zubiri at 10th place.
Former Senator Richard Gordon and Vice President Jejomar Binay’s daughter, Nancy Binay, were at 11th and 12th place respectively.
“The latest SWS survey reflects a huge leap for many potential candidates including those allied with United Nationalists Alliance or UNA,” Zubiri said.
With 38 names on the list, the one who has a big jump in ranking is Zubiri who was number 14 in the first quarter survey both in SWS and Pulse Asia but now place 10th.
Joining Garcia with UNA is Zambales Rep. Milagros ‘Mitos’ Magsaysay who ranked 20th.
Both Magsaysay and Garcia took their oath as newest members of UNA along with Zubiri, who was endorsed personally by former President Joseph Estrada. —/LPM (FREEMAN)