MANILA - Senator Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos, Jr. took the solo lead in the vice-presidential race as his closest rival, Senator Francis Joseph ''Chiz'' Escudero, saw a drop in his popularity rating, according to the latest survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS) released Monday.

The March 30 - April 2 polls showed Marcos steady at the top, with 26% of 1,500 adult respondents choosing him as their top choice for vice president.

Marcos got 25% in the previous SWS survey commissioned by BusinessWorld, conducted from March 8 to 11.

Escudero, on the other hand, shed seven percentage to 21% from his previous 28%.

Administration bet Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo was in a statistical tie with Escudero, given the survey's +/-3 margin of error.

She slipped three points from 22% in the last survey.

At fourth place was Senator Alan Peter Cayetano who also remained steady at 13% from 12% in the last poll.

Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan shared the bottom spot, with 5% both.

The BusinessWorld-commissioned survey was done using face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide. It was conducted after the second #PiliPinas presidential debate in Cebu last March 20.

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Speaking to dzMM, political analyst Prof. Edmund Tayao said Marcos may have gained more supporters because of how he managed the negative publicity against him.

"Habang pinupukol mo nang pinupukol at ang balik naman sa'yo ng pinupukol mo ay hindi iyung inaasahan mong magagalit, mag-iinit ng ulo at magiging mahina ang dating e mahina ang nangyayari. Kaya sa kabilang banda, hindi humuhina kundi bagkus ay lumalakas," Tayao said.

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The University of Santo Tomas (UST) professor added that Marcos' active poll campaigns helped in his vice presidential bid.

"Sa lahat ng mga kandidato naman, si Senator Bongbong ang nauna talagang umikot at nagpakilala ulit bilang isang senador at isang batang Marcos, lalo na noong kasagsagan ng usapin tungkol sa Bangsamoro Basic Law," he said.