Mary Gillan Frances G. Ropero

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.