Vice President Sara Duterte rebounds in the latest Pulse Asia survey, as her family pulls the underdog card, turning crisis into opportunity following the arrest of their patriarch who stands accused of murder as a crime against humanity in The Hague, Netherlands.
According to the firm’s March 2025 Ulat ng Bayan survey, Duterte was the only top official to post gains in both approval and trust ratings.
Her approval numbers reportedly climbed to 59%, up from 52% in February, while her trust score jumped from 53% to 61%. Her disapproval rating also dropped significantly, from 26% to 16%.
In contrast, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suffered a steep decline. His approval rating fell by 17 points to just 25%, while his disapproval surged to 53%. His trust score also dropped from 42% in February to 25% in March.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Senate President Francis Escudero likewise experienced drops in public approval.
Amid these shifting political dynamics, a realignment has taken shape. Senator Imee Marcos, whose survey rankings have been steadily declining, positioned herself closer to the Duterte bloc.
Senator Marcos failed to make the top 12 in the March pre-election polls from SWS, OCTA Research, and Pulse Asia. She was ranked 13th–18th with 27.6% by the latter while Duterte loyalists such as Senators Christopher Go and Ronald Dela Rosa reportedly gained momentum.
Pundits say the growing clout of the Duterte camp may have influenced Senator Marcos’ decision to part ways with her brother’s senatorial slate, Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, and appear in a recent campaign video alongside VP Sara.
The ad, titled “ITIM” or “Inday Trusts Imee Marcos,” shows the two exchanging fist bumps—a signature Duterte gesture.
Political analyst Arj Aguirre described the alliance as a “calculated move” by Senator Marcos to revive her campaign and regain voter trust.
“The ad, first and foremost, is obviously a desperate move from Imee to salvage her campaign since her numbers continue to plummet this year,” Aguirre told the Manila Standard.
He noted that Marcos has recently aligned herself with the Dutertes by defending the former president in the Senate and openly criticizing the Marcos-led administration.
Aguirre said it is “too early to say” if this will evolve into a ‘Unity 2.0’ for 2028, but it is clear the groundwork is being laid.
“Imee must first win this election, win big, like top the race to earn that enviable and privileged place of being top choice to run with Sara in 2028,” he added.
As the midterm elections approach, the evolving ties between the Dutertes and the Marcoses are expected to reshape the political landscape, with both camps eyeing 2028 as a critical battleground.