Noynoy Regains His Throne; Pulse Asia Survey

by Mary Ann G. Jocson


According to the latest Pulse Asia Survey, Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III has regained the lead in the presidential race with a 7 percentage point lead leaving Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Manny Villar's percentage drop by 6 points.

Pulse Asia said, "With less than three months before the May 10, 2010 elections, Sen. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III (LP) again takes the lead in the presidential race, garnering 36% of voter preferences," during it media release last March 5.

Pulse Asia also added,that compared to the January survey, voter support for Senator Aquino is virtually unchanged. On the other hand, voter preference for former President Estrada improves (by 6 percentage points) while that for Senator Villar declines (by 6 percentage points).

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted after the Senate committee of the Whole recommended the censure of Villar for unethical conduct and allegations of bribery against Villar in connection with the C-5 road project. Their results are as consistent with the January 28 to February 3 Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) survey showing Aquino regaining the lead following the Senate report recommending Villar's censure.

Also in the February 21-25 Pulse Asia survey, administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro got 7%, a 2 percentage point increase from the January 2010 survey and Bangon Pilipinas standard-bearer Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Sen. Richard Gordon, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Nick Perlas, Vetallano Acosta, and John Carlos 'JC' de los Reyes were statistically tied at the bottom between 0-2%.

"As in the previous survey, about the same number of voters with a presidential preference says that they opted for their candidate because he/she is not corrupt (26%) as cites his/her caring for the poor (22%). Other reasons cited for preferring a candidate are that he/she can do/is doing/will do something (14%); helps/is helping others (11%); is a good person (10%) and is used to governing/has experience 7%)," Pulse Asia said.

There's a total of 1,800 respondents that are asked who would they vote for as the president and 6% of it refused to answer or were undecided or gave no answer. The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 2%.