Marcos-backed senatorial bets still top SWS survey

Senatorial aspirants backed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dominated the latest Social Weather Stations senatorial preference survey commissioned by the Stratbase Group, according to results shared on Thursday.

The survey asked 2,097 registered voters to choose 12 individuals they would most probably vote as senators. It was conducted through face-to-face interviews from December 12-18, 2024.

Stratbase Group said it provided a list of 70 names in its survey. Respondents were asked the following question: “Narito po ang listahan ng mga pangalan ng mga kandidato para sa mga SENADOR NG PILIPINAS. Kung ang eleksiyon ay gaganapin ngayon, sino ang pinakamalamang ninyong iboboto bilang mga SENADOR NG PILIPINAS? Maaari po kayong pumili ng hanggang 12 pangalan? [Here is a list of names of candidates for SENATORS OF THE PHILIPPINES. If elections were to take place today, whom would you most probably vote for as SENATORS OF THE PHILIPPINES? You can mention up to 12 names].”

The thinkthank said the respondents gave their answers orally.

House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo held the top spot, with 45% of the respondents saying they intend to vote for him.

This was lower than the previous SWS senatorial survey, where he garnered 54%.

Stratbase Group noted that Senators Bong Revilla Jr. and Bong Go were the biggest gainers in the December survey.

Support for Revilla increased from 24% in September to 33% in December, ranking him second in the latest survey.

Meanwhile, Go’s percentage jumped from 18% in September to 32%, placing him in the third to fourth ranking.

The ranking was shared by Senator Pia Cayetano, whose percentage showed a slight increase from 31% to 32%.

Former lawmaker Tito Sotto fell from second to fifth ranking as his percentage decreased from 34% to 31%. 

Broadcaster Ben Tulfo entered the Top 12 in the December survey as he ranked 6th and received 30% support.

Former senator Ping Lacson ranked seventh. His percentage improved from 24% to 27%.

Former senator Manny Pacquiao and TV personality Willie Revillame shared the eight-to-ninth spots.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay figured in the 10th spot. She was followed by Senator Lito Lapid, who secured the 11th ranking.

Las Pinas Representative Camille Villar and Senator Imee Marcos share the 12th-14th spot with 21% support with PDP-Laban’s Senator Bato Dela Rosa.

In a media release, SWS confirmed that it conducted the commissioned survey.

SWS said the survey has sampling error margins of ±2.1% for national percentages, ±5.3% for Metro Manila, ±3.0% for Balance Luzon, and ±5.2% each for the Visayas and Mindanao.—RF, GMA Integrated News