MANILA (UPDATED) - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte emerged number 1 in a survey of possible presidential candidates conducted by Pulse Asia.

Duterte led the top spot, with 26 percent of respondents picking her, followed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Senator Grace Poe who were both tied at second place at 14 percent.

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Respondents in Mindanao (58 percent) and in the Visayas (29 perc) also expressed support for Duterte, said the survey.

Ranked third was Manila Mayor Isko Moreno at 12 percent, followed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao at 10 percent.

In 5th place was Vice President Leni Robredo at 8 percent, followed by senators Panfilo Lacson and Christopher “Bong” Go both tied at 6th place at 4 percent.

In an interview on Teleradyo, Pulse Asia president Prof. Ronald Holmes explained that the Davao mayor's surname may have something to do with her popularity rating.

"Ang kanyang apelyido ay Duterte at ang kasalukuyang pangulo ay Duterte. Nationally prominent ang pamilya. Siya mismo ay mayroon pinagkikilanlan sa kanya . . . halos universal ang awareness," he said.

"Kaya hindi natin matatanggal na maaaring sa roster ng partikular na kandidato ay mayroon isa sa apat ang nagsasabi, kung ginanap ang eleksyon nu'ng ginaganap ang survey, ay siya ang kanilang iboboto."

Holmes added that the results may also have been affected by the candidates' ethno-liguistic affinity with the voters.

"Ibig sabihin na may tendency ang mga taga-Mindanao, mga Bisaya na bumoto ng kandidato na galing sa parehong grupo," he said.

"Kaya importante ritong tingnan natin kung sino sa kanila ang makakakuha ng suporta sa mga grupo na siya lamang ang nabibilang. Kung siya lang ang tatakbo galing Visayas maaring siya ang makakakuha ng malaking bahagdan ng mga boto na galing sa Visayas."

Three other possible candidates that ranked 7th, 8th and 9th place respectively were Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano (3 percent), Sen. Richard Gordon (0.2 percent), and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio (0.1 percent).

In Metro Manila, the top probable candidates of respondents for president were Marcos (20 percent), Domagoso (18 percent), Duterte (16 percent), Poe (12 percent), and Pacquiao (12 percent).

Tied with Poe in Luzon at 17 percent was Domagoso, followed by Marcos (16 percent), Robredo (13 percent), Duterte (12 percent), and Pacquiao (9 percent).

The most preferred presidential bets of those belonging to Class ABC were Duterte (27 percent) and Marcos (21 percent); Duterte still posts the highest voters preference in Class E at 23 percent, followed by Poe (18 percent), and Pacquiao (14 percent).

Holmes said voter perception may still change in the next few months based on what they see or hear from social and traditional media.

"Masasabi nating may bahagi ang social media dahil may tinatawag tayong digital device at maraming taong kumukuha ng impormasyon di lang sa social media kundi sa traditional media," he said.

"Medyo maaga pa at hindi rin natin madidiscount ang impormasyong nakukuha sa social media."

3 BETS TOP VICE-PRESIDENTIAL SURVEY

In the Vice Presidential race, Domagoso was number 1 at 17 percent, followed by Sara Duterte (16 percent), Senate President Vicente Sotto III (14 percent). Trailing behind them were Marcos and Pacquiao who both received 11 percent support from respondents, Senator Bong Go (9 percent).

The survey said Filipinos are least supportive of the the vice presidential bids of Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero (6 percent), Taguig City-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano (5 percent), Senator Juan Edgardo Angara (2 percent), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar (2 percent), and Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno (2 percent).

Domagoso got the highest support at 22 percent in Metro Manila, followed by Sotto (18 percent). The two also got the most support recorded in the rest of Luzon with Domagoso at 20 percent and Sotto at 18 percent.

The survey also showed that 5 probable candidates post the same double-digit voter preference in Visayas. They are Duterte (18 percent), Marcos (16 percent), Pacquiao (15 percent), Domagoso (12 percent), and Sotto (11 percent).

In Mindanao, 32 percent of respondents express support for the Davao City Mayor over other probable vice-presidential bets.

Leading bids in Class ABC were Duterte (22 percent), Sotto (14 percent), Domagoso (12 percent), and Marcos (12 percent). Those in Class D most preferred to vote for Domagoso (18 percent), Duterte (15 percent), and Sotto (13 percent).

The survey was conducted after a series of storms that hit various parts of the country and caused massive flooding in the Cagayan Region.

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It also followed the announcement of drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna that their vaccines are more than 90 percent effective against COVID-19 and the designation of Carlito Galvez Jr., as vaccine czar and the extension of the general community quarantine of Metro Manila, Batangas, Lanao del Sur, and Davao del Norte until 31 December 2020 due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the said areas

Pulse Asia said the nationwide survey is based on a sample of 2,400 representative adults and has a 2 percent error margin.

The survey fieldwork was conducted from Nov. 23 to Dec. 2 using face-to-face interviews, Pulse Asia said.

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