A potential political alliance between Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Senator Raffy Tulfo could pose a strong challenge to Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2028 presidential elections, according to recent polling data.
A pre-election survey conducted by OCTA Research from July 4 to 11 revealed that 45 percent of respondents would vote for a Robredo-Tulfo ticket if matched against a hypothetical pairing of Vice President Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos, who garnered 42 percent support.
Regional Voting Breakdown
The survey demonstrated strong regional divides in voter preferences across the country:
- Metro Manila: The Robredo-Tulfo tandem held a decisive lead with 56 percent, compared to 22 percent for Duterte and Marcos.
- Balance Luzon: Robredo and Tulfo secured majority support at 61 percent, while the Duterte-Marcos ticket received 23 percent.
- Visayas: Both potential tickets were tied in a dead heat, each capturing 45 percent of voter preference.
- Mindanao: The Duterte-Marcos ticket dominated the Vice President’s home region, securing 90 percent support against 5 percent for Robredo and Tulfo.
Political Context
Despite the polling results, neither ticket is officially confirmed. Both former Vice President Robredo and Senator Tulfo have previously stated that they do not intend to seek higher office in 2028.
Conversely, Vice President Duterte publicly declared her intention to run for the presidency in February.
The nationwide survey interviewed 1,200 respondents and carries a margin of error of ±3 percent.