INCUMBENT and former lawmakers dominated the top senatorial picks of Thomasians for the 2016 national elections, a survey conducted by the Varsitarian showed.
Former senator Richard “Dick” Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, emerged as the top contender, with 61 percent of Thomasians saying they would vote for him if the elections were held on the day they were polled. He was followed by former justice secretary Leila de Lima with 57 percent.
Gordon, a former mayor of Olongapo, served as senator from 2004 to 2010. He ran for president in 2010 and senator in 2013, but lost in both elections.
Senate President Franklin Drilon, a key ally of President Benigno Aquino III, placed third with 53 percent while Sen. Ralph Recto, who is running for re-election, landed on the fourth spot with 47 percent.
Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, former senator, presidential assistant for rehabilitation and recovery, and national police chief, ranked fifth with 46 percent.
Other bets in the top 12 were former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros (46 percent), Sen. Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III (46 percent), former senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (45 percent) and Juan Miguel Zubiri (40 percent), former Manila vice mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso (35 percent), Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (27 percent), and boxing legend Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, representative of Sarangani province (18 percent).
Also within striking distance of the top 12 were Sen. Teofisto Guingona III (17 percent) and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian (15 percent).
UST alumni Joel Villanueva, a former UST basketball player, and Susan Ople got 11 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Villanueva, who headed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, finished economics at the College of Commerce and Business Administration. Ople, a former labor undersecretary, finished communication arts at the Faculty of Arts and Letters.
The survey, conducted from Oct. 26 to Dec. 10, had 1,366 respondents randomly selected from the University’s faculties and colleges. Respondents were asked to choose not more than 12 senatorial candidates from a list of 54 names.
