MANILA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Philippine presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to lead the race, according to a survey released Monday, one week before the May 9 elections.
A national survey by Pulse Asia conducted from April 16 to 21 with 2,400 people aged 18 and above said that the son of former president Ferdinand Marcos "remains the choice for president" by 56 percent of likely voters.
Presidential voter preferences are "essentially constant" between March and April, the pollster said, adding that Marcos registered "majority voting figures in most geographic areas (54 to 67 percent) and all economic classes (56 to 57 percent)."
Trailing Marcos in the second place is incumbent Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, with 23 percent.
The voting preference ratings of the other presidential candidates remained low at a single-digit or less. Boxing icon-turned-senator Emmanuel Pacquiao was in third place with 7 percent, Manila City Mayor and former actor Francisco Domagoso with 4 percent; and former-national-police-chief-turned senator Panfilo Lacson with 2 percent.
The survey also showed Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio maintained a commanding lead in the vice-presidential race. Pulse Asia said 55 percent of the Filipinos would vote for the daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Pulse Asia said Carpio "has majority voting figures in Metro Manila (51 percent), Mindanao (80 percent), and every socio-economic grouping (51 percent to 60 percent)."
In the Philippines, the president and vice president are elected separately, though Marcos and Carpio are running on the same ticket as tandem.
The national and local elections are scheduled for May 9 in the Southeast Asian country. There are 10 presidential candidates and nine vice-presidential candidates.
The Philippine constitution permits the president to serve a single six-year term. ■
