ANTI-CRIME and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo and former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III are the top choices for senators if the 2025 mid-term elections were held today, the March 6 to 10 Ulat ng Bayan survey of Pulse Asia showed.
The survey showed that Tulfo and Sotto gained 57.1 percent and 51.8 percent support, respectively, of the respondents.
Others in the top 12 are former President Rodrigo Duterte (47.7%), Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go (44.2%), Sen. Pia Cayetano (37.7%), former Sen. Manny Pacquiao (33.7%), Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (33.2%), Sen. Imee Marcos (32.1%), former Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso (31.5 percent), broadcaster Ben Tulfo (30.5%), Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. (29.6%) and Makati Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay (29.1%).
Trailing behind them are former Sen. Panfilo Lacson (28.6%), TV personality Willie Revillame (25.9%), Sen. Lito Lapid (25.4%), Dr. Willie Ong (24.6%) and former Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (22.2%).
Pulse Asia gave the respondents a list of 77 names from which they chose 12 that they would vote for senator if the elections were held today.
The survey involved 1,200 respondents with a margin of error of ±2.8 percent.
‘PEOPLE’S TRUST’
Senate majority leader Joel Villanueva said the positive trust rating of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri in the latest Pulse Asia survey “reflects the people’s trust in the Senate” which also validates the approach the upper chamber has taken “with regard to different issues, particularly the Charter change.”
In a statement, Villanueva said the positive trust rating that Zubiri enjoyed was due to his “steady, sober leadership of the Senate.”
“Because of this, the Senate President enjoys not only the trust of our people, but the trust of the members of the Senate (as well),” Villanueva said.
The Pulse Asia survey conducted March 6 to 10, saw a two-percentage point increase in the trust rating of Zubiri, from 51 percent when the survey firm held a similar poll in December 2023.
Zubiri scored big in Mindanao, where he received a trust rating of 69 percent, up 11 percent from the 58 percent he got from the previous Pulse Asia survey.
Comparatively, the Senate leader’s trust rating among social classes ABC also jumped 21 percent to 62 percent.
“The Pulse Asia survey is very telling as the results give us an idea of who our leaders, who our constituents believe is very credible,” he said.
He added: “The timing of the survey also validates the approach the Senate has taken with regard to different issues, particularly the Charter change. Despite the politically-charged and sometimes acrimonious discussions on Constitutional amendments, Senate President Zubiri has led the way by consistently taking the high road and we believe the Filipino people appreciate this.” — With Raymond Africa
