Former senators Kiko Pangilinan, Ping Lacson, and Bam Aquino topped a national senatorial preference survey among youth and students held from October 17 to the 25th. The survey was conducted by the newly established Centre for Student Initiatives (CSI).
Pangilinan, who finished second in the vice presidential race in 2022 received a 67% voter preference among students aged 18 to 25, followed by Lacson with 54.5% and Aquino with 51.7%.
The other non-administration candidates that landed on the top twelve spots included Makabayan candidates France Castro (43.5%) in 6th place, Arlene Brosas (39.9%) in 8th place, while activist-lawyer Luke Espiritu ranked 12th place receiving a 27.4% voter preference.
Besides Lacson, other aspirants endorsed by President Bongbong Marcos also figured well in the youth poll. Led by re-electionist Pia Cayetano (44.4%) in 4th place, closely followed by Makati Mayor Abby Binay (43.67%) in 5th, former Social work Secretary Erwin Tulfo (40.5%) taking the 7th spot, followed by veteran actors Vicente Sotto III (32.25%) and Ramon Revilla Jr. (28.83%).
Filling the 13th to 18th spots respectively were former Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, re-electionist Francis Tolentino, labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman, Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar, former partylist Representative Teddy Casino, and Representative Wilbert Lee of AGRI partylist.
Aspirants known to be aligned with former president Rodrigo Duterte fared poorly among the youth. Re-electionist Christopher Go landed on the 24th spot with 7.33%, Reserve Officers Training Course revival advocate, Senator Ronald dela Rosa placed 31st with 6% and beleaguered pastor Apollo Quiboloy received no vote from the respondents.
Of the 156 partylist groups accredited to run in the 2025 midterm elections by the Commission on Elections, Akbayan topped the online poll with 7.33% voters’ preference, followed by Kabataan with 6.9% and Gabriela with 5.8%.
Other partylist groups that garnered more than the 2% threshold included Mamamayang Liberal, ACT Teachers, TGP, Bayan Muna, and Pilipinas Babangon Muli.
CSI revealed that their maiden survey randomly selected 1,200 respondents based in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Western and Central Visayas of which 64% are enrolled in state universities and colleges, 12% are enrolled in LGU-managed local universities and colleges and 24% in privately owned universities.
The newly established CSI is an independent student-directed research institution for development solutions in education and youth participation in governance.
