Pol Bets Launch Last Ditch Blitz

2025 Mid-Term Senatorial Tracking Poll:

Alyansa lead skids in latest Pulso ng Pilipino pre-poll survey; 2 PDP Laban stalwarts,

5 other pro-DU30 bets shake up Magic 12;

Tolentino Holds Fort, Imee back in the fight;

Shift in preferences seen in 2025 polls;

Bong Go, TitoSen still setting the pace.

PULSO NG PILIPINO --- What was touted as a walk in the park before the official campaign period for national candidates began in February is now teetering on the brink of an unprecedented colossal collapse and the Marcos Administration is leaving no stone unturned to salvage its political advantage as the party in power as its political survival is contingent on the results of this mid-term elections.

         This is how The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) views the current political turmoil following the decision of the Administration that led to the contentious arrest and involuntary surrender of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to The Hague, a move that was characterized by a confounding interpretation of the law that only exposed the idiocy of the country’s governing body.

         In its latest Pulso ng Pilipino pre-poll survey conducted by The CENTER on April 11-15 and 19-22, 2025 using a combined face-to-face multistage area probability sampling (MSAP) and random digital access methodology that surveyed some 1,800 respondents nationwide who are registered voters and were distributed randomly through all the social classes. The survey has a margin of error of + 3% and a confidence level of in excess of 98%.

         The results of the survey showed that while the pro-administration Alyansa continues to enjoy an advantage, the pro-Duterte senatorial ticket continues to inch its way into the winners’ circle. From the previous nine senatorial candidates in the Magic 12, the Alyansa advantage is now down to seven candidates while the other senatorial slots are shared by one independent candidate and four candidates who are identified with the pro-Duterte team.

         In the Magic 12 are: Mr. Malasakit and reelectionist Sen. Bong GO at No. 1 with 57%. Maintaining his second place finish and a share of the lead is former Senate President Tito SOTTO with 54.3%. Sen. Bato DELA ROSA whose reelection bid surged in recent days propelled the former PNP chief to a strong third place with 46%.

         Sharing the 4th to 5th spots are Sen. Pia CAYETANO with 44.5% and she is followed closely by erstwhile leader Party List representative Erwin TULFO with 44%. Coming in at the 6th to 7th positions are Makati Mayor Abby BINAY with 40.7% and broadcaster Ben TULFO with 39%.

         Las Pinas City’s lone Congresswoman Camille VILLAR shot up to 8th place with 37.9% following the endorsement of Vice President Sara Duterte and she is followed closely in a statistical tie for 8th to 9th place by Sen. Tol TOLENTINO with 37.5% and whose reelection bid got a shot in the arm following his startling revelation during the recent Senate hearing on the presence of underwater drones that are sending intelligence information to China and possible interference on the country’s upcoming mid-term polls.

        TOLENTINO is also credited with the creation and launch of the country’s ROTC Games that brings together college students nationwide who are attending the ROTC discipline as participants not only in various sports competition but the games also include academic contests.

        Sharing the 10th to 11th spots are former Sen. Ping LACSON with 36% and Sen. Imee MARCOS with 35.8% whose reelection campaign was resurrected when the Senate committee she chairs was able to highlight certain flaws in the arrest and surrender of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to The Hague. Lacson’s ratings dropped by 7.3% from the Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll survey in March which stood at 43.3%.

         In 12th to 14th places are Sen. Lito LAPID with 32%, a huge 14% drop from the 46% the Pampanga senator scored in Pulso’s survey in March. Also in this batch are Party List Rep. Rodante MARCOLETA with 30.5%, a 12% increment from the 18.5% that he scored in March. Former Sen. Greg HONASAN with 29.6% is also in this batch.

         At 15th to 16th places and who still have a chance to barge into the Magic 12 are TV variety host Willie REVILLAME with 27% and Sen. Bong REVILLA with 25%. Like Senator Lapid, this is also a big 17.5% dive from the 42.5% the Cavite stalwart registered in March.

         The Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll going into the homestretch of the mid-term polls also included three candidates at 17th to 19th positions. They are: Former Sen. Manny PACQUIAO with 23%, former DILG Secretary Benhur ABALOS with 23% and actor Ipe SALVADOR with 22%. In 20th place is lawyer and artist Jimmy BONDOC with 21%. He is followed closely at 21st to 23rd places by former Sen. Bam AQUINO (20%), Party List Rep. Bonnie BOSITA (19%) and former COA Commissioner Heidi MENDOZA (18%).

         In 24th place is former Executive Secretary lawyer Vic RODRIGUEZ with 17% and former Sen. Kiko PANGILINAN at 25th place with 16%.

         The latest non-commissioned Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll was conducted on April 11-15 and 19-22, 2025 the gap in between was to give way to the country’s observance of the Holy Week. The entire stretch of the survey period effectively captured the events of recent weeks highlighted by the alleged illegal arrest and highly irregular surrender of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Senate Hearing chaired by Sen. Imee Marcos that exposed several lapses in the manner the alleged warrant of arrest was served on the former President.

         The survey polled some 1,800 respondents composed of registered voters nationwide with ages ranging from 18 years old to 65 years old and above and covered all social classes using the traditional MSAP method. The CENTER also used when applicable the random digital access methodology which is now commonly used in the United States. The Pulso ng Pilipino survey is conducted by The CENTER and has been in existence since 1992 as an internal poll research organization during the administration of the late President Fidel V. Ramos.

          Bong GO’s campaign gained traction from his patronage of sports development at the grassroots level and certainly from the beneficiaries of his Malasakit health program. Sotto, on the other hand, used his vast experience as a four-term Senator who was never absent or late when the Senate was in session even during the pandemic. Over the years, Sotto has built a considerable political network in almost all the political regions throughout the country.

The CENTER also explained the huge drop in the ratings of Senators LAPID and BONG REVILLA is reflective of the growing number of voters who are beginning to look at the quality of the candidates to sensitive and important national positions such as the Senate.

Many feedbacks that The CENTER received point to the fact that the Senate is a legislative body and notwithstanding the fact that Lapid and Revilla have been previously elected to the Senate there are still many who doubt the wisdom in electing them to the Senate and amidst the issues related to both candidates.

While Lapid has not been dragged into contentious issues such as plunder, still there have been some controversies raised with regards his alleged connection to the POGO operations and quarrying firms in Pampanga. Lapid has denied any links to POGO operations.

Bong Revilla at the same time has remained quiet about the court ruling that ordered him to return the P124-million to the government. There is also the question of the change of name, albeit through judicial proceedings, which came as a surprise to many.

   During the face-to-face interviews, a skip interval method was employed with five to seven houses in between calls in thickly populated villages to obviate any bias in the responses. Selective interviews were conducted considering the demographic requirements such as gender, age and socio-eco classification as the main considerations. In such situations, proper physical distancing was still observed including disinfection of materials used.

         Calls were checked back at random by the Team Leader to ensure accuracy of data entered on the call cover and interview pages. A unique feature of the PnP survey is its use of actual intelligence information on the ground that are collected from the so-called Listening Posts (LPs). This layered system of intelligence gathering developed during the previous Ramos presidential campaign is what ensures the accuracy of the Pulso ng Pilipino survey.

          The PnP survey during the period covered shows the race for the Magic 12 remains tight as current political developments can influence the mindsets of voters going into the May 12, 2025 polls. Anything can happen and the rankings may still change depending on how the current issues are managed by both the Administration and the Opposition. For reference: Contact Ed M. Malay @ 09209602293 or at: pulsongpilipino.com