Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has surged in the latest The Standard Poll, with at least 30 percent of the respondents saying they will vote for him if the elections were held today. With a national error margin of +/-1.8 percent, Duterte was statistically tied with Senator Grace Poe with 27 percent, followed by administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II (21 percent), Vice President Jejomar Binay (18 percent) and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (2 percent). The March 26 to April 1 survey covered 79 provinces, 40 highly urbanized cities – including 17 cities in the National Capital Region. It has 3,000 respondents, all of whom are registered voters who said they are sure to vote in next month's polls. “Duterte has the momentum at this time compared to other presidential candidates,” said Junie Laylo, resident pollster of The Standard. “There is consolidation of support for Duterte in Mindanao. In bailiwicks of other candidates like in Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and NCR, he also posted significant increases,” Laylo added.Laylo also attributed Duterte's steady increase to the respondents's choice on who can solve the country's most important problems among the five presidential candidates. In the vice presidential race, Senator Francis Escudero and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were statistically tied with 28 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo remained on the third spot with 21 percent, followed by senators Alan Cayetano (15 percent), Antonio Trillanes IV (5 percent) and Gringo Honasan (3 percent). Re-electionist Vicente Sotto III was the top choice for senator with 51 percent of respondents saying they will vote for him if the polls were held today. Rounding up the top 15 senatorial candidates are Francis Pangilinan (45 percent); senators Ralph Recto and Franklin Drilon with 43 percent each; Panfilo Lacson with 39 percent; Juan Miguel Zubiri and Joel Villanueva with 37 percent each; Risa Hontiveros (36 percent); Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian (35 percent); Senator Teofisto Guingona III, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Richard Gordon with 31 percent each; Leila de Lima (30 percent); Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao (29 percent); and Senator Sergio Osmeña III (28 percent).