Re-electionist Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emerged as the top choice in the latest Pulse Asia pre-election senatorial survey conducted in February, despite previous polls showing him outside the top three.
Go’s rise coincides with the period following former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), solidifying his position as a leading candidate associated with the Duterte administration.
The survey, conducted from February 20 to 26, indicates that many of the potential winners in the 2025 senatorial race are current or former lawmakers linked to the recent administration’s “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” or Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban).
Go led the survey with 58.1% of respondents saying they would vote for him. He was followed closely by ACT-CIS Party-List Representative Erwin Tulfo, who garnered 56.5% of the votes. Trailing behind them were: former Senate President Vicente Sotto III (49.0%, 3rd-4th); Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. (46.1%, 3rd-6th); Senator Ronald dela Rosa (44.3%, 4th-7th); television personality Willie Revillame (42.3%, 4th-9th); Ben Tulfo (40.7%, 5th-11th); former Senator Manny Pacquiao (39.9%, 6th-12th); Senator Lito Lapid (39.4%, 6th-13th); Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay (37.6%, 7th-13th); Senator Pia Cayetano (37.5%, 7th-13th); Camille Villar (36.6%, 8th-13th); and former Senator Panfilo Lacson (35.8%, 9th-13th)
The survey also revealed a decline in voter certainty regarding their senatorial choices. “A little over a third of Filipino registered voters (38%) have a complete senatorial slate for the May 2025 elections – lower than the January 2025 figure (50%),” Pulse Asia reported.
In the party-list race, despite 155 groups vying for representation, only five are on track to secure the maximum three seats in the House of Representatives, according to the same Pulse Asia survey. Under the Party-List System Act (Republic Act No. 7941), a group must secure at least 2% of the total votes to qualify for a congressional seat, with additional seats awarded proportionally, up to three per party.
The five party-list groups leading for three seats are: ACT-CIS (6.25%); Senior Citizens (5.87%); Tingog (5.01%); Uswag Ilonggo (4.62%); and 4Ps (4.29%)
Seven other party-list groups are projected to win two seats each: Duterte Youth (3.48%); Ako Bicol (3.11%); PPP (2.95%); FPJ Panday Bayanihan (2.86%); Kalinga (2.68%); Malasakit@Bayanihan (2.44%); and 1-Rider Party-List (2.22%)
The survey found that 83% of Filipino registered voters already have a preferred party-list group, and 92% are familiar with the party-list system.
