Vico, Baste among preferred Senate bets in 2028

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte are among the most preferred personalities to run for the Senate in 2028, according to the latest survey by OCTA Research group.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, found that both Sotto and Duterte are in the upper half of the so-called Magic 12.

Both mayors have yet to announce their 2028 plans, with Sotto – who is term limited – previously saying he is not inclined to run for any post.

The survey found that Sotto, who obtained the support of 42 percent of the respondents, was statistically tied with Senators Raffy Tulfo (47 percent), Robin Padilla (45 percent) and Alan Peter Cayetano (44 percent).

They were followed by Duterte and former senator Grace Poe, who both obtained 36 percent of support.

Others within the winning circle were Sen. Loren Legarda (31 percent), former Makati mayor Abby Binay (29 percent), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority chief operating officer Mark Lapid (28 percent), Sen. Francis Escudero (27 percent), Education Secretary and former senator Sonny Angara (25 percent) and former senator Manny Pacquiao (25 percent).

Outside the Magic 12 but within statistical chances of winning were broadcaster Ben Tulfo (23 percent), detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (22 percent), former Senate president Koko Pimentel (20 percent) and former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo (20 percent).

Trailing them were Sen. Mark Villar (19 percent), former senator Gregorio Honasan (18 percent), Labor Secretary and former senator Francis Tolentino (18 percent), television host Willie Revillame (16 percent), Secretary to the Cabinet Benhur Abalos (16 percent), former congressman Bonifacio Bosita (16 percent), Sen. JV Ejercito (16 percent) and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (16 percent).

OCTA stressed that the findings should not be interpreted as a forecast of the 2028 senatorial election.

“They provide only a snapshot of voter preferences during the… fieldwork period. Preferences may change substantially as political alignments, candidacies, campaign conditions, public issues and voter information evolve,” it said.

“Rank ranges are reported because candidates with close percentages may be statistically tied within the survey’s margin of error,” it added.

The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percentage points.