Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and former Senator Grace Poe have emerged as frontrunners in the senatorial race for the upcoming 2028 elections, according to a pre-election survey conducted by the research firm Tangere Research.
The poll, which surveyed 2,400 respondents between October 21 and 23 with a margin of error of ±2%, placed Mayor Duterte at the top spot with 42.7%. He was closely followed by Grace Poe, who secured 38.3%.
Meanwhile, a tight race for the third and fourth positions unfolded between Senator Raffy Tulfo at 36.5% and Senator Robin Padilla at 36.4%. Rounding out the top five is Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano with 34.6%.
Completing the projected “Magic 12” winning circle are:
- Broadcast journalist Ben Tulfo
- Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte
- Former Senator and National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Lead Convenor Manny Pacquiao
- Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero
- Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara
- Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno
- Actor and television host Dingdong Dantes
Additionally, several prominent figures landed inside the top 20 but fell just outside the winning circle, including Senator Loren Legarda, siblings Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay and former Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, lawyer and musician Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, and Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos.