Erwin Tulfo leads OCTA senatorial survey

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos seem to want more members of the Tulfo family at the Senate after a recent OCTA Research survey showed significant support for two brothers of Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo has emerged as the most preferred candidate in next year’s Senate elections, with his brother Ben closely following him at fourth spot.

Results of the March 11 to 14 showed tha t 58.4 percent of the respondents said they will vote for Erwin, also a former social welfare secretary, if the elections were held during the survey period.

Ben, meanwhile, received the support of 42.5 percent of the respondents.

Both Erwin and Ben were also in the so-called “Magic 12” – first and 10th, respectively – in a separate survey conducted by Pulse Asia also last March.

Their brother, Sen. Raffy, and Vice President Sara Duterte are leading and statistically tied in Pulse Asia’s preference poll for the 2028 presidential elections.

Incumbent, returning

Like the Pulse Asia poll, OCTA’s survey for the 2025 Senate polls also saw reelectionist and former senators leading the list.

Following Erwin are former Senate president Vicente Sotto III (51.7 percent) and Sen. Bong Go (49.9 percent), while on fifth spot after Ben is former president Rodrigo Duterte (38.1 percent).

They were followed by former senator Panfilo Lacson (33.5 percent), Sen. Ronald dela Rosa (32.5 percent), former senator Manny Pacquiao (31.7 percent), Sen. Bong Revilla (29.7 percent), Sen. Imee Marcos (29.4 percent), former Manila mayor Isko Moreno (26.7 percent) and Sen. Pia Cayetano (26.4 percent).

Outside top 12 but within statistical chances of winning are Sen. Francis Tolentino (22.4 percent), Sen. Lito Lapid (21.5 percent), Dr. Willie Ong (21.3 percent) and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos (20.8 percent).

Senators Go, Dela Rosa, Revilla, Marcos, Cayetano, Tolentino and Lapid are all eligible for reelection.

Others included in the list were former senators Gregorio Honasan II and Richard Gordon (17.6 percent each), Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte (16.8 percent), Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte (15.1 percent), former senators Francis Pangilinan (14.9 percent) and Franklin Drilon (14.5 percent), television host Willie Revillame (14.3 percent) and Makati Mayor Abby Binay (14.1 percent).

Trailing them were Finance Secretary and former senator Ralph Recto (13.9 percent), former vice president Noli De Castro (13.7 percent), Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez (12.7 percent), Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (12.6 percent), former vice president Leni Robredo, former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista and former senator Mar Roxas (11.7 percent each).

OCTA’s non-commissioned Tugon ng Masa survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.

Meanwhile, the Pulse Asia senatorial preferences survey conducted March 6-10 showed that among those who ranked in the top 16 are Erwin Tulfo (57.1 percent), Tito Sotto (51.8), former president Duterte (47.7), Go (44.2), Cayetano (37.7), Pacquiao (33.7), Dela Rosa (33.2), Marcos (32.1), Moreno (31.5), Ben Tulfo (30.5), Revilla (29.6), Binay (29.1), Lacson (28.6), Revillame (25.9), Lapid (25.4) and Ong (24.6).

Go thanked his followers for their support, saying he will not waste this chance to serve all and fight for the welfare of every Filipino. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab