Vice President Sara Duterte continues to lead early preference surveys for the 2028 presidential elections, though analysts note her support has remained steady rather than surging after her formal declaration of candidacy.
WR Numero Advisory Group CEO Robin Garcia said Duterte’s voter preference stands at 35 percent.
“The data represent a post-announcement story or headline and we were expecting that she was gonna surge into a higher position but that’s something we don’t see but she’s stable at 35%,” Garcia explained.
Survey results conducted from March 10 to 17 placed Duterte in first with 35.9 percent, followed by Senator Raffy Tulfo at 18.5 percent and former Vice President, now Naga City Mayor, Leni Robredo at 15.7 percent.
Garcia noted that Tulfo and Robredo could be considered statistically tied for second place given the ±3.0 percent margin of error.
“If you push the logic, if you apply the margin of error, it can be considered that (Leni) as statistically-tied with Raffy Tulfo at 2nd place,” he said.
Garcia observed that Duterte, Tulfo, and Robredo appear to be the main contenders at this stage, though both Tulfo and Robredo have downplayed presidential ambitions. Tulfo has indicated plans to seek re-election to the Senate, while Robredo has emphasized her focus on her duties as mayor of Naga City.
Despite the early numbers, Garcia cautioned that the presidential race remains fluid, with voter preferences likely to shift as the campaign season approaches.