Pulse Asia confirms survey showing Raffy, Sara lead in 2028

MANILA, Philippines —  Polling firm Pulse Asia confirmed on Tuesday night that it had conducted the pre-electoral surveys showing Filipinos’ preference for presidential and vice presidential candidates in the 2028 national elections.

The survey, conducted from March 6 to 10, showed Sen. Raffy Tulfo and Vice President Sara Duterte statistically tied among possible successors of President Marcos.

Tulfo obtained 35 percent of support while Duterte, who was previously seen as a frontrunner, garnered 34 percent.

They were followed by former vice president Leni Robredo with 11 percent; Sen. Imee Marcos, five percent; former senator Manny Pacquiao, three percent; Sen. Robinhood Padilla, two percent and Sen. Risa Hontiveros with one percent.

Among the possible bets for vice president, Sen. Grace Poe led the list with 35 percent, followed by Senator Marcos with 16 percent, Pacquiao and Padilla with 14 percent, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri with seven percent, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro with four percent and Speaker Martin Romualdez with one percent.

Pulse Asia said the results are from “rider questions” included in its March 2024 Ulat ng Bayan survey.

The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.8 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

Senate race

Pulse Asia also released a separate survey showing ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo leading among potential candidates for the Senate race in the 2025 midterm elections.

Tulfo, a former social welfare secretary, obtained the support of 57.1 percent of the respondents asked by the polling firm.

Tulfo expressed his gratitude to the survey respondents who have shown their support for him.

“It’s truly humbling to witness such a high level of confidence in my capacity to serve,” he said in a statement. “While I appreciate the sentiments of the public, my primary focus remains on fulfilling my duties as ACT-CIS representative.”

Tulfo was followed by former Senate president Vicente Sotto III (51.8 percent), former president Rodrigo Duterte (47.7 percent), Sen. Bong Go (44.2 percent), Sen. Pia Cayetano (37.7 percent), Pacquiao (33.7 percent), Sen. Ronald dela Rosa (33.2 percent), Sen. Marcos (32.1 percent), former Manila mayor Isko Moreno (31.5 percent), Ben Tulfo (30.5 percent), Sen. Bong Revilla (29.6 percent) and Makati Mayor Abby Binay (29.1 percent).

Outside the so-called “Magic 12” but within statistical chances of securing a Senate seat were former senator Panfilo Lacson, television host Willie Revillame, Sen. Lito Lapid and Dr. Willie Ong.

Senators Go, Cayetano, Dela Rosa, Marcos, Revilla and Lapid are eligible for reelection.

Trailing them are former senator Francis Pangilinan (22.2 percent), Finance Secretary and former senator Ralph Recto (18.8 percent), former senators Gregorio Honasan II (17.5 percent) and Bam Aquino (17.3 percent), Sen. Francis Tolentino (16.7 percent), former Senate president Franklin Drilon (16.1 percent), Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (15.2 percent) and former senator Richard Gordon (14.8 percent).

They were followed by broadcaster Ted Failon (14.6 percent), former senator Mar Roxas (13.6 percent), Robredo (13.6 percent), Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte (13.5 percent), Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte (13.1 percent) and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV (13 percent).

The respondents were asked to select up to 12 names from a list of personalities eligible to run for senators next year. – Delon Porcalla, Emmanuel Tupas