BASED ON THE JUNE  PULSE ASIA SURVEYS, eight  (8) administration allies and four (4) opposition would have joined the magic 12 winners for senator.

Among the top 14 rankings of the survey, we removed the names of those who had not expressed interest in entering the senate race: Rody Duterete ( 39.2 %) who wants the presidency or nothing, Lino Cayetano (36.9%) who was probably mistaken for another Cayetano (Pia or Alan) and Jamby Madrigal(33.9%)  who is quiet as a monk these months for the administrations allies.

We had to remove the name of former senator Migz Zubiri ( 43.9%) because he seemed uninterested in public life after enjoying the bliss of family life.The Zubiris do not need the money and the prestige these days.

As in many senate polls, name recall is primordial. That is the reason why the reelectionists are likely to get elected again in the 2016 race.

For the administration, the leading survey names are Tito Sotto  (63.7%), Ralph Recto (47.6%), Franklin Drilon  (45.9%), Serge Osmena (45.2%), TG Guingona  (28.1%) for the administration allies and Bongbong Marcos (54.2%) for the opposition although his party the NP is considered a coalition ally.

The top notcher of the lot is former senator Ping Lacson   (67.4%) though he  still has moist eyes for the presidency though, but had referred to the senate as an alternative if his survey ratings for president does not hit 10% at least. We classify him under the opposition because of his very severe blasts against the P 3-Trillion budget and the lack of support for the Yolanda rehabilitation by this administration.

DA secretary and former senator Kiko Pangilinan  (46.9%) though not a reelectionist , has just been away for only  three years from the senate roll call and benefits from name recall. DOJ secretary  Leila de Lima  (38.7%) has not been a surprise in the winning circle for her high profile activities and for also personally wanting to be a senator.

She is considered as an administration ally, of course, like former representative  Risa Hontiveros  (27.0%)  who still has a mathematical chance of winning, Opposition Dick Gordon (38.7%) will run if his numbers remain high till September. He is a high profile Red Cross chairman and a fixture during disasters. No doubt,boxing great and representative  Manny Pacquiao  (37.6%) will win once he goes around the country asking for votes.

A dark horse will be Bicol congressperson  Leni Robredo  (13.1%)  whose ratings will soar once Pnoy raises her hand as candidate.  The same with cabinet secretaries  MMDA’s Francis Tolentino ( 17.8%) and Tesda’s Joel Villanueva (17.2%) who we heard are both “dying” to become senators of the land.

Among the opposition , it will be Manila vice mayor Isko Moreno  (23.6%) and actress congresswoman  Lani Mercado  (19.1%)  who will improve their chances once they go around the country- because of their strong personal appeal. Lito Atienza  (26.6%) could get in if Pacquiao vouches for him as a friend and as a competent public servant. They are personal friends.

One of those who will win but would not run is actor Dingdong Dantes (15.2%) who is close to the president and will be endorsed  if asked but is not keen on politics especially with wife Marian Rivera  infanticipating.

The allies  Erin Tanada, Danny Lim, Pong Biazon and Mark Lapid have not been heard of as interested in the senate as well as Abby Binay, Precy Estrada and Gilbert Remulla of the opposition.

So if elections were held last June the administration allies Sotto, Recto, Pangilinan, Drilon, Osmena , de Lima and TG Guingona or Risa Hontiveros will  probably make it while the opposition’s Lacson, Marcos, Gordon, Pacquiao  and perhaps Atienza or Moreno may make it.

Are these your choices  yours too, or do you have others in mind?

Let’s watch out for the next survey.

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