Senators Francis Escudero and Manuel Villar Jr. emerged as the top two contenders in the 2010 presidential election based on the latest IBON Foundation presidential survey.

In the nationwide survey conducted among 1,496 respondents last April 17-26, Escudero was the Filipinos’ “top-of-the-mind choice” in the 2010 elections, garnering 13 percent of the respondents’ votes.

Escudero is closely followed by Villar with 12 percent.

They were followed by Sen. Loren Legarda (8 percent), former President Joseph Estrada (8 percent), Panfilo Lacson (8 percent), Vice President Noli De Castro (6 percent), and Sen. Manuel Roxas II (6 percent).

The respondents were asked twice who they want to vote for President.

In the first question, they were asked their “top-of-the-mind choice” without giving them a list of the possible presidential candidates. This is where Escudero and Villar emerged as the frontrunners.

In the second question, the respondents were asked their choice based from a list of 18 presidential candidates. Here, Escudero also emerged as the respondents’ top choice with 17 percent.

Escudero is closely followed by Villar (15 percent), Legarda (12 percent), and Estrada (10 percent).

The four candidates were the only ones who received two-digit percentages.

Those who followed them were: De Castro (9 percent), Lacson (8 percent), Roxas (7 percent), Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay (3 percent), Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio (2 percent), Sen. Francis Pangilinan (2 percent), Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (1 percent), Sen. Richard Gordon (1 percent), Ramon Revilla Jr. (1 percent), Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (1 percent), and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando (1 percent).

Escudero said his leading the latest IBON Foundation survey is no cause for him to rejoice just yet.

In a text message, he said he would maintain a neutral stand even if he sees he is faring well in the presidential surveys.

He earlier said that whoever tops the surveys has no basis to celebrate yet while those who lag behind in the surveys have no cause to feel frustrated either.

Meanwhile, former Sen. Serge Osmena said an “exploratory” committee has been formed to determine whether or not Escudero could launch a “credible campaign” to prepare his possible entry into the 2010 presidential race.

A member of the committee, Osmena said he is doing exploratory works for Escudero for six months now.

“We’re still exploring… It’s too early to declare his candidacy,” Osmena said in a phone interview.

Escudero’s popularity ratings, according to the former senator, would be the primary consideration in determining the senator’s winnability in the upcoming elections.

According to Osmena, while Escudero has been seen consistent at second and third spots in the latest surveys of the two polling firms, his ratings were still below the target, which is at least 25 percent.

Meanwhile, priest-turned-Pampanga Gov. Eduardo Panlilio called on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Monday to help voters choose the right leaders in the May 2010 national and local elections by coming out with a short list of candidates.

“The CBCP should provide the people a model telling them who are the candidates who are good and qualified to lead the country,” he said.

Panlilio, in an interview with Church-run Radio Veritas 846, said it is no longer enough for the Catholic Church to tell the electorate to vote wisely by issuing guidelines as the people are looking for something concrete.

“The CBCP is non-partisan. But I think it’s about time that we help the people not only to vote wisely but also choose the right candidates,” he said.