Top 12 Survey: Alyansa Holds Lead as Duterte Allies
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Pulse Asia Survey Shows Marcos-Aligned Candidates Maintain Lead, While Support for Some Pro-Duterte Bets Drops
MAY 05,2025
Top 12 Pulse Asia Survey Reveals Top Senate Contenders Backed by Marcos Jr. and Alyansa
MANILA, Philippines — In the latest Pulse Asia pre-election survey released May 5, most Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates continued to dominate the rankings, while several candidates allied with former President Rodrigo Duterte slipped outside the top 12.
Conducted from April 20–24 with 2,400 Filipino adults nationwide, the Pulso ng Bayan survey showed 14 out of 64 senatorial candidates still have a statistical chance of winning a Senate seat in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
At the forefront are incumbent Senators Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa, both from Duterte’s circle, who maintained top-five placements. Go led the pack with 62.2% voter support, while Dela Rosa followed closely with 41%, placing him between second and fourth.
Pro-Duterte Candidates Like Marcoleta, Salvador Drop from Winning Circle
While Go and Dela Rosa remain strong, other pro-Duterte candidates lost ground. Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and actor-turned-politician Phillip Salvador, who previously ranked within the 11th–18th bracket, dropped to 23% and 23.7% respectively — pushing them to the 14th–18th tier.
Senator Imee Marcos, despite her familial connection to the current administration, is also struggling. Her support declined to 24.7%, placing her in the same lower bracket.
These drops reflect a possible shift in voter sentiment, particularly following the recent political turbulence involving Vice President Sara Duterte and her fallout with the Marcos administration.
Erwin Tulfo and Tito Sotto Among Leading Alyansa-Endorsed Senate Bets
Matching Dela Rosa’s momentum are administration-backed bets Rep. Erwin Tulfo (ACT-CIS Party-list) with 42.4% and former Senate President Tito Sotto with 41.1%. Despite Go overtaking Tulfo in recent months, Tulfo’s numbers remain formidable.
Earlier in the year, Tulfo led the race with 62.8% support in January, only to dip slightly in February and March after Duterte’s ICC arrest intensified political division.
Rounding out the Alyansa’s winning roster are:
- Sen. Bong Revilla – 35.6%
- Sen. Pia Cayetano – 29.9%
- Sen. Lito Lapid – 32.2%
- Sen. Ping Lacson – 33.8%
- Sen. Manny Pacquiao – 28.3%
- Mayor Abby Binay – 30.2%
Opposition’s Bam Aquino Clings to Top 12, Pangilinan Trails
On the opposition side, only former Sen. Bam Aquino is statistically within reach of the Senate, with 25.4% support, giving him an estimated rank of 11th to 18th. His tandem partner, Kiko Pangilinan, received 19.8%, likely placing him outside the winning circle.
Camille Villar’s Support Stalls Amid Marcos’ Silence
Rep. Camille Villar, who remains on the Alyansa ticket, garnered 28.3% support in April, a slight dip from March. Yet President Marcos Jr. notably omitted her name twice during recent campaign speeches — once in Batangas and again in Cebu, where Governor Gwen Garcia was present.
RELATED STORY: PrimeWater Probe Backed by Alyansa Despite Camille Villar’s Admin Bid
While Villar was mentioned briefly at a Lucena rally on May 2 — after Malacañang announced an investigation into PrimeWater, a Villar-run firm — her absence from presidential endorsements is increasingly evident.
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