Liberal Party (LP) bet Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has regained a significant nine-point lead over his closest rival Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr., in the latest survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) and daily broadsheet BusinessWorld.

The nationwide survey conducted March 19 to 22 among 2,100 respondents showed that Aquino’s percentage increased by a point with 37 percent from 36 percent in the SWS-Businessworld survey last month.

Meanwhile, Villar’s rating dropped by six points from 34 percent in February to 28 percent at present.

The respondents were particularly asked “Kung ang eleksyon ay gaganapin ngayon, sino ang pinakamalamang ninyong iboboto bilang Presidente, Bise-Presidente, at mga Senador ng Pilipinas. Narito ang listahan ng mga kandidato. (If the elections were held today, whom would you most probably vote for as President, Vice-President, and Senators of the Philippines. Here is the list of candidates.)”

They were instructed to shade the oval beside the name of the persons they would most likely vote for in a prepared ballot with the candidates’ names.

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer Joseph Estrada improved to 19 percent from 15 percent last February.

SWS noted that the percentage gap of Villar and Estrada narrowed down to nine points from the previous 19 percentage points.

Meanwhile, Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilbert Teodoro Jr.’s percentage remains unchanged at 6 percent.

The other presidential candidates also recorded minimal movements in their percentages.

Senator Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan) gained one point in his percentage, bringing his percentage- point to 3 percent.

Gordon is followed by Bangon Pilipinas bet Bro. Eduardo Villanueva with 2 percent, Ang Kapatiran Party presidentiable John Carlos delos Reyes with 0.3 percent, independent candidate Jesus Nicanor Perlas with 0.1 percent, and another independent candidate Ana Maria Consuelo Madrigal with 0.04 percent.

The survey noted that votes for disqualified Kilusang Bagong Lipunan candidate Vetellano Acosta were placed under the undecided and others category.

Results of the survey for the vice presidential race showed a steady lead for LP bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II despite a three-percentage point drop in his score (42 from 45 percent).

Roxas retained a wide lead over consistent second placer Senator Loren Legarda (Nationalist People’s Coalition) who has a score of 25 percent.

The survey noted the seemingly narrowing gap between Legarda and PMP vice presidential bet Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, who gained four percentage points (21 from 11 percent) in the March survey.

Roxas’ lead over Legarda was steady at 17 points, but narrowed to 21 from 28 over Binay.

Legarda’s lead over Binay declined to just four points from 11 previously.

Bagumbayan vice-presidential bet former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Bayani Fernando and Lakas-Kampi-CMD bet actor Eduardo Manzano were tied in fourth place with 3 percent each.

In the senatorial race, leading are Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. with 53 percent, followed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada with 52 percent.

Other candidates in the top 12 list were Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (44 percent), Senator Pia Cayetano (42 percent), former Senate President Franklin Drilon (36 percent), Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (35 percent), former Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (33 percent), former Senator Ralph Recto (30 percent), Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (30 percent), Senator Manuel Lapid (26 percent), former Senator Sergio Osmeña III (25 percent), and former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla (24 percent). (With reports from Kris Bayos and Czarina Nicole O. Ong)