VP Duterte, Senator Tulfo are Filipinos’ most preferred presidential candidates in 2028 — survey

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

VICE-PRESIDENT Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio and Senator Rafael T. Tulfo emerged as the most preferred presidential candidates of Filipinos for the 2028 national poll, according to research firm WR Numero.

In its September survey, WR Numero found that nearly one in four (24%) Filipinos said they would vote for Ms. Duterte and Mr. Tulfo as president in 2028 if the elections were held between Sept 5 and Sept. 23.

The results showed Ms. Duterte slipping by 5 percentage points, while Mr. Tulfo gained by 3 points.

Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said both top runners are “likely to be benefiting from the same networks of online content and information or disinformation” like most Filipinos are dealing with the past years.

“Like it or not, the Duterte brand still has an audience even as every year the Dutertes are out of national executive and legislative office chips on their credibility,” he told BusinessWorld in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Ironically the Tulfo brand might be even stronger, especially as Raffy Tulfo seems to be both the culmination of the ‘tough guy’ image he and his brothers have cultivated for decades, and he is also arguably the ‘least brash/approachable’ of them,” he added.

Ms. Duterte and Mr. Tulfo are followed by former Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo (9%), Senators Mary Grace Natividad S. Poe-Llamanzares, and Maria Imelda Josefa R. Marcos (5%), the study found.

Trailing them were Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel (4%), former Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, Sr. (4%), and Senator Robinhood Ferdinand C. Padilla (3%). House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez was last with only 1%.

The survey said nearly 2 in 10 Filipinos (18%) are still unsure who to vote for.

Mr. Tulfo, who is known for his broadcast journalism, is leading across all regions except Mindanao, where the incumbent vice-president is favored by a great majority (65%).

Mr. Tulfo is preferred by 31% in Metro Manila, followed by Ms. Robredo (13%), and Ms. Duterte (9%).

Ms. Duterte and the former vice-president, Ms. Robredo, are tied in Luzon (11%), but Mr. Tulfo steadily led with 26%.

One in four (25%) would vote for Mr. Tulfo in Visayas, with Ms. Duterte trailing at 17%.

Ms. Duterte is the top choice among respondents from Classes ABC (24%) and E (26%), while Mr. Tulfo garners the highest support from Class D, with 27%. According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the consumer classes ABCDE system is a classification of dwellings from wealthiest (A) to poorest (E).

Among decided voters, Ms. Poe emerged as the leading vice-presidential candidate, favored by nearly one in five Filipinos (20%).  She is followed by former Vice-President Robredo with 14% and Mr. Padilla with 9%.

Also among the top 5 preferred vice-presidential candidates were Ms. Marcos and Mr. Pacquiao, both with 8%, followed by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri (4%), Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro (3%), and Mr. Romualdez (3%).

Ms. Poe led in all regions except Mindanao, where Mr. Padilla held the top spot with 17%, closely followed by Mr. Pacquiao at 16%.

Ms. Poe and Ms. Robredo are statistically tied for third place in Mindanao, each with 14%.

The outgoing senator also led across all income classes, while Ms. Robredo ranked second except in Class ABC, where she placed third (14%), slightly behind Ms. Marcos (15%).

The findings form part of the WR Numero’s Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, which conducted face-to-face survey with 1,729 adults nationwide.