Vice President Leni Robredo widened her lead in a recent presidential preference survey by the country’s largest association of Catholic schools.

Robredo was chosen by 52.57% or 1,624 votes of the 3,089 respondents, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines said, higher than the 45.16% she garnered in October.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr, son of the late dictator, came second with 24.54% or 758 votes, a 4-point increase compared with the previous poll conducted before the deadline of the filing of candidacy.

“In all age groups, Robredo got the highest number of votes; while, across designations, she led among school heads/administrators, teaching personnel, non-teaching personnel, and other designation,” said the CEAP Research Unit in a statement.

“The two remaining designations, which are the students and alumni, have the highest votes for Marcos,” it added.

CEAP’s 2nd 2022 National Elections Pulse Google Survey was done from Jan. 24 to Feb. 4, involving students, school heads and administrators, non-teaching personnel, alumni and other staff.

Isko Moreno Domagoso is in far third with 9.61% or 297 votes, while Ping Lacson was with 3.53% or 109 votes.

Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao trailed with 0.87 percent or 27 votes, while Leody De Guzman took 0.26 percent or 8 votes. About 8 percent or 266 voted to abstain.

Broken down to regions, there are 11 regions, namely Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, National Capital Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region, that went with Robredo.

On the other hand, the regions of Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga chose Marcos.

The survey was conducted at the height of issues in the Commission on Elections regarding the petitions to disqualify Marcos from the presidential race.

The poll involved students, school heads and administrators, non-teaching personnel, alumni and other staff.

Kiko Pangilinan— Robredo’s running mate — led the vice presidential race with 30.37% or 938 votes. Sara Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte and Marcos’ running mate ranked second with 26.84% or 829 votes.

Willie Ong, meanwhile, was chosen by 14.28% or 441 of the respondents; Tito Sotto with 11.72% or 362 votes; Lito Atienza with 0.71% or ww votes; while 16.9% or 497 voted to abstain.

For the senatorial race, the top candidates chosen by the respondents were Chiz Escudero (1728 votes); Risa Hontiveros (1569 votes); Chel Diokno (1563 votes); Sherwin Gatchalian (1229 votes); Migz Zubiri (1216 votes); and Loren Legarda (1117 votes).

Also getting significant votes are Joel Villanueva (1065 votes); Alan Peter Cayetano (1043 votes); Dick Gordon (1042 votes); Raffy Tulfo (947 votes); Antonio Trillanes IV (857 votes); and Leila De Lima (822 votes).

CEAP is an association of more than 1,500 Catholic schools nationwide.