A newly released voter preference survey shows Vice President Sara Duterte pulling ahead of Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo by a wide margin in early presidential rankings.
The mobile-based poll conducted by research firm Tangere on February 19 and 20 recorded Duterte at 43 percent, while Robredo garnered 27 percent. Senator Raffy Tulfo placed third with 15 percent. Among the top three names tested, only Duterte has publicly declared her intention to run in 2028, announcing her bid on February 18.
The findings point to clear geographic patterns. Duterte retained dominant backing in the Visayas and Mindanao. Robredo’s support was strongest in Calabarzon and the Bicol Region. Tulfo drew notable numbers from respondents in the National Capital Region and Central Luzon. Northern Luzon appeared divided, with voters split mainly between Duterte and Tulfo.
Beyond the leading trio, Senator Risa Hontiveros received 4 percent, while 12 percent of those surveyed said they remained undecided.
The same study measured potential vice presidential matchups. Senator Bong Go led that field with 27 percent, followed by Senator Bam Aquino at 21 percent. Tulfo secured 13 percent, and Senator Robin Padilla obtained 10 percent. Padilla also ranked as the most preferred alternative among Go’s supporters, with 44 percent identifying him as their second choice.
Other personalities tested—including Senators Imee Marcos and Francis Escudero, as well as ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo—registered below 4 percent.
Researchers also simulated scenarios involving endorsements and potential candidacies. If Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were to endorse Robredo, one in five of her existing supporters indicated they would withdraw backing. However, such an endorsement could draw voters from Tulfo’s camp, translating to a projected three-point overall gain. Separately, Duterte’s lead was expected to remain largely steady even if Go enters the presidential race, with only 12 percent of her supporters saying they might transfer support to him.
On measures of public perception, Go recorded the highest trust and satisfaction ratings at 64 percent each. Robredo followed with a 59.2 percent trust score and 55.9 percent satisfaction rating. Duterte registered 55 percent in trust and 48 percent in satisfaction for her performance as vice president. Marcos posted 35 percent trust and 32 percent approval in the same survey.
Tangere said the non-commissioned poll surveyed 1,200 respondents nationwide through stratified random sampling. The study carries a margin of error of ±2.77 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
