ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo led potential senatorial candidates preferred by Filipinos for the 2025 midterm elections, according to research firm WR Numero's survey results, which were released on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

In its inaugural Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, “The Opinion Monitor,” WR Numero found that nearly 60 percent of Filipinos would vote for Tulfo if the 2025 midterm elections took place during the survey period.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte and former Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III ranked 2nd and 3rd, with 54 percent and 45 percent, respectively.

They were followed by Senators Imee Marcos (41 percent), and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (40 percent), who tied for 4th and 5th place.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (35 percent), Senator Pia Cayetano (35 percent), former senator Manny Pacquiao (34 percent), and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go (33 percent) were all tied for 6th to 9th place.

Former Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (30%) and Davao City Rep. Paolo "Pulong" Duterte (27%) also made the top 12 after finishing 10th and 11th in the survey, respectively.

Also among those that may win a senatorial seat are former Senator Francisco “Kiko” Pangilinan (26 percent), former Vice President Leni Robredo (24 percent), Dr. Willie Ong (24 percent), TV personality Willie Revillame (23 percent), Senator Lito Lapid (23 percent), and Makati Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay (23 percent), who ranked 12th to 17th (See Figure 1).

Tulfo top choice of opposition supporters; former PRRD leading among pro-admin voters 

“Tulfo emerged as the top choice of voters identifying as opposition supporters (53 percent), independent (69 percent), and unsure (63 percent),” WR Numero said in its report.

“[Meanwhile,] former president Duterte is the top choice of administration supporters at 56 percent, followed by Tulfo (53 percent) and [Senator Imee] Marcos (50 percent),” it added.

The survey also found that Tulfo is the preferred candidate of both first time voters (65 percent) and likely voters (58 percent), while Duterte led those who were registered non-participating voters (69 percent) and unregistered eligible voters (60 percent).

Tulfo dominated income Class D (60 percent) and Class E (61 percent), however, he placed 7th among respondents in Class ABC at 34 percent.

“Respondents from Class ABC preferred Duterte (66 percent), Marcos (62 percent), and Pacquiao (41 percent),” it said.

Moreover, Tulfo led the voters across all age groups and those in rural and urban areas.

Across regions, he received majority voter preference in Metro Manila (62 percent), rest of Luzon (55 percent), and Visayas (66 percent), but ranked 2nd in Mindanao where Duterte was the top choice.

Tulfo was also the top choice of voters identifying as heterosexual (60 percent).

Meanwhile, those identifying as members of the LGBTQIA+ preferred Robredo (52 percent), while those who refused to answer preferred Sotto (72 percent).

The respondents to the non-commissioned and independent survey were asked to select their top 12 candidates from a list of options presented in random order to each respondent.

The nationally representative survey was conducted face-to-face among 1,457 Filipino adults aged 18 and up across the country from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24, 2023.

It has a ±3 percent error margin at the 99 percent confidence level.

The error margin estimates at the sub-national level are ±9 percent for the National Capital Region, ±5 percent for the rest of Luzon, ±8 percent for Visayas, and ±7 percent for Mindanao at a 99 percent confidence level.