Tulfo brothers, sitting and former lawmakers top senatorial survey

Metro Manila, Philippines – Television siblings, former lawmakers, and a few reelectionists are top senatorial bets if elections scheduled for next year would be held today, a survey by the OCTA Research group showed on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Former Social Welfare Secretary and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo topped the poll, followed by his brother and radio personality Ben Tulfo. They are brothers of Sen. Raffy Tulfo.

Ex-Senate President Vicente Sotto III and former Senators Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao were also in the so-called “Magic 12.” Sotto ran for vice-president and lost in 2022, while Lacson and Pacquiao were also losing presidential candidates.

Senators Bong Go, Francis Tolentino, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, Bato dela Rosa, and Imee Marcos also made it to the list.

The survey also showed former President Rodrigo Duterte as a popular choice, at 7th-15th. His sons - Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte and Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte - were ranked 16-24.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and celebrity cardiologist Willie Ong were on the list as well.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for the midterm polls will run from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8.

Some 1,200 respondents participated in the survey held on Aug. 28 to Sept. 2. They were asked to list their Top 12 senators for the elections on May 12, 2025.

“This survey has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level,” OCTA Research said.