Majority of Filipino voters are likely to support senatorial candidates who will defend the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a study conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

According to the SWS, 75 percent of voters said they would choose candidates who believe that the Philippines must assert its rights against China’s aggressive actions in the WPS.

Meanwhile, 25 percent said they would pick candidates who do not believe in asserting the country’s rights.

SWS said the survey, commissioned by Stratbase Consultancy, was conducted from April 11 to 15 through face-to-face interviews with 1,800 registered voters aged 18 years old and above nationwide.

The pollster noted that the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.31 percent for national percentages, and plus or minus 3.27 percent for Balance Luzon, and plus or minus 5.66 percent each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Results also showed that support for candidates who will defend the country’s rights was high across economic classes and sexes: 72 percent among Class A, B, C, 76 percent among Class D, and 59 percent among Class E.

Seventy-four percent of male respondents and 76 percent of female respondents said they would vote for candidates who would assert the country’s rights in the WPS.

Meantime, three percent said they are “somewhat less likely,” and one percent said they are “definitely less likely” to vote for candidates supporting the defense of the WPS.

Thirteen percent said the issue would not affect their vote, SWS said.

Thee exact survey question was:

“Alin sa dalawang kandidato ang inyong iboboto (Which of the two candidates will you vote for)?”

• Isang kandidatong naniniwala na dapat igiit ng Pilipinas ang ating mga karapatan laban sa mga agresibong pagkilos ng China sa West Philippine Sea (A candidate who believes that the Philippines must assert our rights against China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea)

• Isang kandidatong hindi naniniwala na dapat igiit ng Pilipinas ang ating mga karapatan laban sa mga agresibong pagkilos ng China sa West Philippine Sea (A candidate who does not believe that the Philippines must assert our rights against China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea)

The poll firm said the survey results were weighted based on Comelec’s 2025 Project of Precincts data for validated voters to obtain the national estimates.