A new nationwide survey suggests Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto could become a formidable rival to Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2028 presidential race—if the Constitution is amended to lower the minimum age requirement for candidates.
The study, conducted by Tangere from August 27 to 30, found that 75 percent of Filipinos back Senator Tito Sotto’s proposal to reduce the presidential age requirement from 40 to 35. Support for the change was particularly strong among Filipinos aged 18 to 48.
In the current scenario, with only eligible contenders included, Duterte leads the field with 44 percent—an increase of nine points from the previous quarter. Her strongest support comes from Central Visayas, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao. Former vice president Leni Robredo followed with 20 percent, mainly from Metro Manila and Bicol.
However, once Vico Sotto is added as an option, the numbers shift dramatically. The Pasig mayor draws 34 percent nationwide, putting him in a statistical tie with Duterte. His support base is strongest in Metro Manila, Northern and Southern Luzon, and Western Visayas.
The survey also shows that Sotto’s rise pulls voters from both Duterte and Robredo. One in five Duterte supporters and nearly half of Robredo’s base switch to him when given the choice. Analysts note Robredo’s potential as a “kingmaker,” with almost 90 percent of her backers saying they would follow her endorsement if she opts out of running.
Tangere emphasized that the non-commissioned poll used a mobile-based platform with 1,400 respondents and a margin of error of ±2.57 percent. The firm is a member of the Marketing and Opinion Research Society of the Philippines, the European Society for Opinion and Market Research, and the Philippine Association of National Advertisers.
