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MANILA, Philippines — In a one-on-one, Vice President Sara Duterte’s lead over Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo for the 2028 presidency is down to a single digit, even as the latter announced she is not running for a national post, a new Pulse Asia survey showed.
Pulse Asia confirmed that the figures were based on rider questions commissioned by the office of Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
The poll, conducted from Feb. 27 to March 2, asked respondents who they would vote for as president in two hypothetical matchups: Duterte against Robredo and Duterte against Sen. Raffy Tulfo.
In the race against Robredo, Duterte held an eight-point lead, 51 percent against 43 percent. Six percent were undecided or said they would not vote for either of the two.
Robredo’s support is mainly among respondents in balance Luzon, while Duterte had solid backing among those in the Visayas and Mindanao. They split the support of those in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, Duterte and Tulfo both received the support of 46 percent of the respondents, confirming a divided electorate between the two officials.
The rest of the respondents said none, were undecided or supplied a different name.
Tulfo’s support came mainly from respondents in balance Luzon, while Duterte had majority support among those in the Visayas and Mindanao. They split the support of survey respondents in Metro Manila.
Duterte has already announced her intention to run for president, while Tulfo, like Robredo, said he will not run for higher office.
Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes also confirmed the results of a separate survey released by Politiko, this time on public preference among six possible candidates for president.
Duterte was leading with the support of 43 percent of voters, followed by Robredo with 27 percent and Tulfo with 19 percent.
They were followed by Sen. Bam Aquino (five percent), Sen. Risa Hontiveros (two percent) and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla (one percent). The remaining two percent were undecided.
Pulse Asia’s first quarter survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.8 percent.
‘Keep us out’
Appealing to be excluded from future election surveys, Senators Erwin and Raffy Tulfo denied anew any plans to seek higher office in 2028, urging the public and political observers to focus on other candidates instead.
Erwin revealed that his brother was “worried” and “bothered” by the survey results, fearing the numbers would attract unnecessary attacks from political trolls.
“Our plan was, the Senate will be our last stop,” he told reporters yesterday.
“2025 just went by, and we were really hit hard with criticisms and attacks. So, let’s just leave it, please, please leave us alone. Please exclude our names,” he added.
Zubiri confirmed that he commissioned the quarterly Pulse Asia surveys to track emerging contenders for the 2028 elections.
“We are doing this to get a regular reading of the field,” Zubiri stated. “In politics, information is power. One survey gives you a snapshot, but a series gives you a pattern.”
Despite tying with Duterte, Raffy reiterated that he would seek re-election in the Senate instead and thanked the public’s support.
“First of all, with all humility, I am grateful for the trust. But I said it before and I’m gonna say it again, I have no plans to run for president in 2028,” he told reporters yesterday.
“I believe I’m doing very well as senator and I can do a lot more as senator. Therefore, you can expect that I will be a re-electionist in 2028,” he added.
Asked if overwhelmingly high survey numbers or public clamor could eventually change his mind, Tulfo was unyielding: “Even if it reaches the heavens, I really won’t be running (for president).”
He also outright rejected the possibility of running as a vice-presidential running mate, stating, “I am happy as big senator.”
Addressing her 2028 plans, Duterte doubted anew whether the upcoming presidential polls will materialize.
“I’m already a presumptive candidate because I declared my intention to run for the next presidential elections. We can only pray that there will be a presidential election in 2028 and it will be honest, orderly and peaceful,” Duterte said in The Hague. — Bella Cariaso, Alexis Romero
