OCTA: Leni-Raffy may win in 2028

CEBU, Philippines — A hypothetical tandem of Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Senator Raffy Tulfo could edge out a possible 2028 ticket of Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos, according to a preference survey conducted by OCTA Research.

In its non-commissioned survey conducted from March 19 to 25, OCTA asked respondents whom they would vote for president and vice president between the hypothetical Robredo-Tulfo tandem and the Duterte-Marcos pairing.

Forty-four percent of respondents said they would support Robredo and Tulfo, while 40 percent said they would back Duterte and Marcos. The remaining 16 percent were undecided.

The survey showed that support for the Robredo-Tulfo tandem was strongest in Metro Manila at 61 percent and in the rest of Luzon at 57 percent.

Meanwhile, the Duterte-Marcos tandem drew majority support from respondents in Mindanao at 86 percent and among those belonging to Class E at 51 percent.

“Although the Robredo-Tulfo tandem holds a four-point numerical lead, the margin should still be interpreted with caution given the survey’s plus/minus three percent national margin of error,” OCTA said.

“While the lead is outside the formal margin-of-error threshold, it is not yet sufficiently large to be considered politically decisive or structurally substantial. Nevertheless, the findings clearly indicate that the race has become markedly more competitive and politically contested entering 2026,” it added.

Both Robredo and Tulfo have said they have no plans to seek higher office.

Duterte, meanwhile, has already announced her intention to run for president in 2028.

Aside from Marcos, other personalities being floated as possible running mates of the Vice President include Senators Robin Padilla and Rodante Marcoleta. — The Philippine Star News Service/FPL (FREEMAN)