Vice President Sara Duterte remains the leading choice in early voter sentiment for the 2028 presidential race, but her advantage has narrowed as Naga Mayor Leni Robredo gains ground, according to the latest survey results from OCTA Research.

The survey showed 33% of respondents prefer Duterte to run for president, while 21% favor Robredo, indicating a tightening gap between the two potential contenders.

In a media interview, OCTA Research president Ranjit Rye said the figures came from an unreleased presidential preference survey measuring early voter sentiment ahead of the 2028 elections.

Rye said the poll included about 10 names drawn from a longer list of roughly 20 potential candidates, selected based on political relevance, including current and former officials.

He identified Duterte and Robredo as the top two preferred candidates, followed by Sen. Raffy Tulfo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Sen. Bam Aquino.

Other personalities included in the broader list were Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong, DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon, DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla, and former PNP Chief Nicholas Torres.

Rye noted that despite the extended list of possible candidates, most respondents tended to favor a small group of familiar political figures, while others registered only minimal support ranging from 1% to 3%.

He added that some names were not included in the survey, such as acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, as the poll was conducted before any indication of his potential candidacy.

The survey underscores early shifts in voter preference more than two years before the next presidential election, with Duterte maintaining the lead but facing increasing competition from Robredo.