A MONTH after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for former President Rodrigo Duterte, candidates backed by the erstwhile leader have surged to the top of Pulse Asia’s Ulat ng Bayan pre-election survey for the 2025 senatorial race.
Senator Christopher Go, a known Duterte ally, led the poll with a commanding voter preference of 61.9 percent, putting him in solo first place.
Trailing behind in the second to third spots were fellow Duterte-backed candidates Erwin Tulfo, with 51.1 percent, and incumbent Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who garnered 48.7 percent support.
Former Senate President Vicente Sotto III followed in fourth place with a 44.2-percent rating.
Other names in the magic circle included reelectionist senators Pia Cayetano at 37.5 percent putting her at 5th place, followed by Ramon Revilla Jr. at 36.9 percent, and former senator Panfilo Lacson with 36 percent.
TV host Willie Revillame landed in the 5-12 bracket with 35.7 percent, along with broadcaster Ben Tulfo who logged 35.4 percent , and Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay with 35.3 percent, and incumbent Senator Lito Lapid with 33.3 percent.
Former Senator Manny Pacquiao ranked 8-16 with 32.0 percent, while actor Phillip Salvador came in with 30.9%.
Camille Villar was in the 12-18 slots 29.0 percent, along with former Senator Bam Aquino IV who mustered 28.6, and Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta at 12-18 with 28.3percent.
The party-list race reflected similar trends. Tingog led the list at 6.11% percent, followed by the Tulfo-backed ACT-CIS at 5.57 percent..
Duterte Youth placed third with 4.74 percent, PPP with 4.64 percent, and 4PS with 4.59 percent.
These five groups are all in positions to secure the maximum of three seats each under the party-list system.
The survey had 2,400 respondents with 95 percent confidence level, while the margin of error at the national level was pegged at ±2 percent.
