If the national elections were held today, seven candidates from the opposition parties, four administration allies, and one independent, will likely be guaranteed a spot in the 12-seat senatorial post in the May 10 elections, the latest Pulse Asia survey results showed Friday.

Administration candidate Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) and opposition bet Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) “statistically tied” in first place with 51.9 percent and 50.4 percent, respectively.

The ratings of Revilla and Estrada resulted in a tie because the survey has a +/-2 percent margin of error.

Revilla ranked first to second, while Estrada ranked from first to third.

Other administration allies who have a statistical chance of winning if elections were held now are Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago (People’s Reform Party) with 41.2 percent ranking from fourth to sixth place, former Sen. Vicente Sotto III (Nationalist Peoples’ Coalition) with 30.5 percent ranking from seventh to 10th place, and Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) with 29.7 percent ranking from eighth to 11th spot.

Meanwhile, opposition candidates who gained a spot in the magic 12 are Sen. Pia Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party (NP) with 46.8 percent ranking from second to fourth place, followed by former Senate President Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party (LP) with 43.2 percent ranking from third to sixth place, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (PMP) with 39.7 percent (fourth to sixth place), former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Ralph Recto (LP) with 34.4 (seventh to ninth place), Ilocos Sur Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) with 26.3 percent (10th to 12th), and Jose “Joey” De Venecia III (PMP) with 24 percent (11th to 12th).

Independent candidate former Sen. Sergio Osmeña III got 31.6 percent (seventh to 10th).

The nationwide survey conducted last Jan. 22 to 26 used face-to-face interviews of 1,800 respondents.

For the electoral preference module, Pulse Asia made use of a ballot that conforms to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) sample prior to the conduct of the January 2010 pre-elections survey.

Respondents were asked to indicate their preference on the ballot based on the instructions written.

As also shown in the survey, individuals within striking distance of a senatorial seat are Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon (19.8 percent), Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III (19.7 percent), and lawyer Alexander Lacson (19.1 percent), all of whom are ranked 13th to 15th.