Enrile Jr., Binay's daughter among those likely to win in 2013 Senate race

MANILA, Philippines - Children of political heavyweights have emerged as potential winners in the May 2013 senatorial elections, a survey from Feb. 26 to March 9 by Pulse Asia revealed.

Among the children of politicians who are likely to win in the senatorial race was Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile Jr., son and namesake of the current Senate President, obtaining 38.2 percent of the votes of 1,200 respondents.

Ma. Lourdes Nancy Binay, eldest daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, got 19.5 percent. The Vice President again emerged as the most popular public official in a recent Pulse Asia poll.

San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV Estrada” Ejercito, son of former President Joseph Estrada, was ranked sixth to 12th places with 31.3 percent.

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, son of former senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. placed seventh to 12th with 29 percent.

Presidential sister Kris Aquino would also likely win a Senate seat with 20.7 percent.

The other personalities who are within striking distance of a senatorial seat were Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, daughter of the late President Ferdinand Marcos (18.6 percent) and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara (18.1 percent), son of Sen. Edgardo Angara.

Pulse Asia’s March 2012 Ulat ng Bayan survey showed that 15 out of the 74 personalities included in the poll have statistical chance of winning Senate seats.

Sen. Loren Legarda topped the poll with 58.5 percent.

Those who also have statistical chan-ces of winning the senatorial election were Sen. Francis Escudero (52.7 percent, rank 2); Transportation and Communications Sec. Manuel Roxas II (41.8 percent, rank 3-5); Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (41.6 percent, rank 3-5); former vice president Noli de Castro (34.6 percent; rank 5-9) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (33.7 percent, rank 5-10).

Escudero, Roxas and Cayetano are also sons of prominent politicians.

Also in the poll were Sen. Gregorio Honasan (32.1 percent, rank 6-10); news anchor/broadcaster Ted Failon (26.9 percent, rank 9-14); Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (26.6 percent, rank 9-15); Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (22.5, rank 11-22); and former senators Juan Miguel Zubiri (22.4 percent, rank 11-22) and Jamby Madrigal (21.8 percent, 12-22).

Quezon City Representative Michael Defensor (21.5 percent), former senator Richard Gordon (20.3 percent), and TV host Willie Revillame (20.2 percent) likewise have statistical chances of winning the senatorial race.

The poll used face-to-face interviews of 1, 200 representative adults. It utilized a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.