Cheyenne Suarez

Tulfo, Duterte tied in mock presidential matchup — Pulse Asia survey

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Sen. Raffy Tulfo tied with Vice President Sara Duterte in a mock one-on-one presidential face-off, according to a Pulse Asia survey. </p><p>Duterte and Tulfo tied at 46 percent in the survey conducted February 27 to March 2, where participants were asked who they would vote for if the presidential election were held today. Seven percent were undecided.</p><p>Across geographic areas, they also tied in Metro Manila at 42 percent. Tulfo dominated the rest of Luzon with 72 percent, while Duterte was favored by 19 percent.</p><p>In Visayas, 64 percent preferred Duterte over Tulfo, who received 32 percent of the votes. Duterte logged 90 percent in her bailiwick Mindanao, compared to Tulfo’s 9 percent.</p><p>In terms of social class, 49 percent of classes A, B and C favored Tulfo, while only 29 percent preferred Duterte.</p><p>The two almost tied in class D, where Duterte got 48 percent while Tulfo got 47 percent.</p><p>Duterte was favored by the majority of the class E at 63 percent. Tulfo got 32 percent.</p><p>Duterte back in February announced her intent to r<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/sara-duterte-to-run-for-president-1102">un for president</a> in the 2028 national elections. </p><p>Tulfo said he <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/2/raffy-tulfo-eyes-reelection-in-2028-declines-higher-office-1355">would not seek the top two executive posts </a>and would instead eye reelection to the Senate in 2028.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DUTERTE VS ROBREDO</strong></div><p>In another hypothetical face-off, Duterte scored the preference of 51 percent of respondents compared to Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo&#x27;s 43 percent. Six percent were undecided.</p><p>Robredo earlier said she <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/leni-robredo-says-she-won-t-seek-national-post-in-2028-1207">would not run</a> for a national post in the 2028 presidential elections and may instead seek a second term as Naga City mayor.</p><p>Meanwhile, Pulse Asia President Ronald Holmes explained that despite Duterte’s February announcement that she would run for president, the survey did not show a rise in her pre-election preference and trust rating.</p><p>He noted that announcements of plans to run typically bring survey figures up by at least six percent.</p><p>The poll covered the time when the impeachment complaints against Duterte were referred to the House Justice Committee, but not the subsequent hearings where she faced more allegations on the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth and supposed assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were presented.</p><p>“Maaari nating sabihin, ano ang magiging epekto ng natapos na impeachment hearing sa Committee on Justice, kung ano man ang desisyon ng plenary, kung ito man ay aabot sa Senado, definitely masusukat iyan sa susunod na survey na aming isasagawa,” Holmes said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2026/5/5/vp-sara-duterte-unfazed-by-looming-impeachment-visits-dad-in-the-hague-0738">VP Sara Duterte unfazed by looming impeachment, visits dad in The Hague</a></div><p>He said the next survey could be conducted at the end of May to June.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ROBREDO-TULFO TANDEM?</strong></div><p>A Robredo-Tulfo tandem could potentially draw massive support, especially in Luzon, which comprises 45 percent of the voting population, Holmes said.</p><p>The professor said the two should announce as early as possible should they decide to run for the top two government posts to mobilize support in places where interventions are needed.</p><p>“In the absence of that team, of any intervention to create organization, it would really be difficult for them to get something off the ground in mid-2027 or closer to the deadline of the filing of candidacy,” he said.</p><p>Holmes clarified that while the survey is part of the firm’s regular survey, the questions were commissioned by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.</p><p>“May subscription kasi ang Pulse kung saan kapag nag-subscribe ka, maaari kang magbigay ng ilang katanungan. Ang contract lang namin, kami ang magbubuo, hindi sila para masigurado namin na hindi leading ang katanungan,” he said. </p><p>Zubiri confirmed commissioning the survey. </p><p>&quot;We are doing this to get a regular reading of the field: who is emerging, who is holding ground and who the public is beginning to seriously consider for 2028. In politics, information is power. One survey gives you a snapshot, but a series gives you a pattern,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Ako ay naniniwalang mas makakatulong sa atin ang regular na pagbasa sa sentimyento ng taumbayan. Kapag alam natin kung ano ang pulso ng mamamayan, mas nauunawaan rin natin kung anong klaseng liderato ang hinahanap nila,” the senator said. </p><p>He added that this “will be a continuing effort to read the political landscape carefully, responsibly and consistently.” </p><div><strong>— With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/94tbNf3yj3U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhBux69bkjs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Raffy Tulfo tied with Vice President Sara Duterte, while Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo followed closely in a recent presidential survey by Pulse Asia.</p>

Sen. Raffy Tulfo tied with Vice President Sara Duterte, while Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo followed closely in a recent presidential survey by Pulse Asia.