9 admin Senate slate bets in top 12 of OCTA senatorial survey

FILE: Members of the prospective senatorial slate presented on September 26, 2024. (PCO Photo)

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Nine of the top 12 preferred candidates in the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) senatorial survey are part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration slate ahead of the 2025 elections.

According to the survey conducted by OCTA Research from November 10 to 16, 2024, ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, running on the Marcos administration slate, took the top spot with 73 percent of the voter preference.

Participants were asked: “If the May 2025 elections were held today, who would you likely vote for as senator?”

Respondents were allowed to choose up to 12 candidates.

Ben Tulfo, media personality and independent candidate, followed closely in second place with 66 percent.

Former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, also backed by the administration, secured third place with 63 percent.

Reelectionist Senator Christopher Go, running under the PDP-Laban party, garnered 52 percent to take fourth place.

Rounding out the top 12 were administration-backed candidates, including incumbent Senators Pia Cayetano and Ramon Revilla Jr., who each received 49 percent; former senators Panfilo Lacson (47 percent) and Manny Pacquiao (38 percent); Senators Lito Lapid (36 percent) and Francis Tolentino (32 percent); and former Interior secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. completed the group with 30 percent.

Senator Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, garnered 41 percent, placing her in the eighth spot.

The survey, which involved face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents nationwide, has a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.