Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno topped the latest senatorial preference survey conducted by Publicus Asia, leading the so-called “Magic 12” of potential candidates for the 2028 senatorial elections.
Based on the survey conducted from October 1 to 4, Sotto recorded a 33% trust rating, while Diokno garnered 23% and posting voting predisposition ratings of 39% and 28%, respectively.
Former Senator Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano tied for third to fifth places, each posting a 23% voting predisposition. Poe recorded a 15% trust rating, while Duterte received 17% and Cayetano 15%.
Senator Raffy Tulfo ranked sixth with a 22% voting predisposition and a 12% trust rating, followed by former senator Leila de Lima in seventh place with 21% and 15%, respectively.
Senator Robin Padilla and former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro tied for eighth to ninth places, each obtaining a 20% voting predisposition. Padilla posted a 15% trust rating, while Teodoro registered 12%.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero ranked 10th with a 19% voting predisposition and a 10% trust rating.
Rounding out the top 12 were former Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Heidi Mendoza and physician Willie Ong, who tied for 11th to 12th places.
The survey had a sample size of 1,581 respondents and measured both trust in potential senatorial candidates and respondents’ voting preferences if the May 2028 senatorial elections were held at the time of the survey.
