Sen. Raffy Tulfo leads the list of prospective candidates for the 2028 senatorial elections with a 47% voting preference in OCTA Research’s third-quarter 2026 survey, followed closely by Sen. Robin Padilla and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Padilla registered 45%, Cayetano 44% and incumbent Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto 42%, placing the four prospective candidates in a statistical tie for the top four positions, OCTA Research said.

Former senator Grace Poe ranked next with 36%, followed by Sen. Loren Legarda at 31%.

The survey, conducted from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, showed several other prospective candidates competing for positions in the preliminary top 12.

Abby Binay received 29%, followed by Mark Lapid at 28% and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero at 27%.

Incumbent Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara and former Sen. Manny Pacquiao each registered 25%, while former Sen. Ben Tulfo received 23% and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada 22%.

Former Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former presidential spokesperson Salvador “Sal” Panelo each garnered 20%, followed by Sen. Mark Villar at 19%. Former Sen. Gringo Honasan and Acting Secretary of Labor and Employment head Francis “Tol” Tolentino each received 18%.

OCTA cautioned that the overlapping statistical rank ranges indicate that several candidates remain competitive for the remaining top-12 positions. The figures should not be treated as definitive rankings because sampling error and changes in the prospective candidate field could affect the results.

Compared with the second-quarter survey conducted from July 4 to 11, Tulfo’s preference rating remained relatively stable, slipping slightly from 47.4% to 47%. Cayetano’s rating declined from 45.4% to 44%, while Sotto’s remained at 42%.

Padilla’s rating fell from 53.9% to 45%. Poe also recorded a decline, from 44.5% to 36%, while Legarda dropped from 39% to 31% and Pacquiao from 34.5% to 25%.

Angara, meanwhile, saw his rating rise from 19.2% to 25%, while Escudero increased from 23.2% to 27%.

OCTA advised caution in comparing the two survey rounds because the names presented to respondents differed.

The research firm said the results reflect hypothetical voting preferences based on a specific list of prospective candidates during the survey period. Some names were removed at the request of the individuals concerned, while prospective candidates who received less than 1% were excluded from the published results.

OCTA emphasized that the findings do not represent a definitive candidate lineup or predict the outcome of the 2028 senatorial elections, as the list of candidates and voter preferences may still change.