MANILA, Philippines -  If the May 2010 senatorial election was held today, re-electionists Miriam Defensor Santiago, Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada would be sure winners, results of the latest Social Weather Stations survey showed Tuesday.

The SWS survey, conducted December 5-10, showed Santiago, Revilla, Jr. and Estrada leading the first circle of 12 top senatorial candidates, which includes three candidates from the Liberal Party, two from Lakas-Kampi-CMD, two from Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, one each from the People’s Reform Party, Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, and Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, and one independent.

A total of 2,100 respondents were asked the question: "If elections were to take place today, who will you most probably vote for as senator of the Philippines?" Respondents were asked to choose 12 candidates from a pre-approved list of 66 names.

More than half of the respondents chose Santiago (55%), Revilla Jr. (54%) and Estrada (53%), making them the top 3 choices for senator. A separate Pulse Asia survey also showed the three re-electionists topping the list of next year's senatorial candidates.

Re-electionist Sen. Pia Juliana Cayetano placed fourth in the SWS survey with 48%, followed by former Senate president Franklin Drilon (47%), former senator Ralph Recto (44%), former Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente "Tito" Sotto III (40%) and current Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile (37%).

Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos placed 9th in the survey with 32%. He is followed by former senator Sergio Osmeña who placed
10th in the survey with 31%. Osmeña is the lone independent candidate in the top 12.

Rounding out the top 12 candidates are Rep. Teofisto Guingona III (24%) and re-electionist Sen. Manuel Lapid (23%).

The SWS said four other candidates could also make it to the top 12. They are: Jose De Venecia III (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) 21%, Rozzano Rufino Biazon (Liberal Party) 20%, Sonia Roco (Liberal Party) 18%, and Gwendolyn Pimentel (PDP-Laban) 17%.

The nationwide survey has an error margin of ±2.2%.