SWS poll: It’s still 8-5 for PPC

Administration senatorial candidates maintained their comfortable 8-5 lead over their opposition rivals in the last national survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted from April 19 to 23.

The score remained at 8-4-1, although there were switches at the bottom of the so-called "magic circle."

Veteran broadcast journalist Noli de Castro, an independent candidate, was still on top with 63 percent, an 18 percent advantage over the second placer, re-electionist Juan Flavier of the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC).

Tied at third slot were Flavier’s partymates – Joker Arroyo, Franklin Drilon and Sergio Osmeña III – who had identical 41 percent ratings.

Re-electionist Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and former Speaker Manuel Villar Jr., shared third slot with 40 percent each, followed by lawyer Francis Pangilinan with 39 percent and Ralph Recto who had 38 percent. All are running under the PPC banner.

Those who made it into the magic circle from the opposition coalition Puwersa ng Masa-Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PnM-LDP) were re-electionists Gregorio Honasan with 32 percent and Juan Ponce Enrile with 31 percent, former Executive Secretary Edgardo Angara (30 percent) and re-electionist Miriam Defensor Santiago, (28 percent).

Tagging at Santiago’s coattail were former Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, former Philippine National Police chief Panfilo Lacson and former Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr. who had statistical tie of 27 percent for 14th place.

"The essential change in the PPC rankings was that Osmeña and Villar gained, while Pangilinan and Recto dropped," the SWS said.

On the opposition side, the biggest change came from the rise of Honasan from 15th and the fall of Mercado from 10th place in the previous SWS survey held on April 1 to 4.

Four points away from the winning borderline were Ernesto Herrera (PPC) and former First Lady Dr. Luisa Ejercito (PnM), both with 24 percent; followed by PPC bets Wigberto Tañada (22 percent), Roberto Pagdanganan (20 percent) and economist Solita Monsod (19 percent).

"Notwithstanding the unchanged national score, the new SWS survey finds that the Class ABCs or middle-to-upper class are now voting 12-0-1, compared to 11-1-1 in early April, and that the Class Es or the very poorest are now voting 8-4-1, compared to 6-6-1 before.