Sen. Robin Padilla remained the most preferred 2028 senatorial candidate, with 53.9 percent in July 2026, according to an Octa Research survey released on Wednesday.
Octa’s Tugon ng Masa survey was conducted from July 4 to 11 among 1,200 registered voters aged 18 and above nationwide through face-to-face interviews.
Respondents were provided with a list of names based on the May 2025 elections and were asked whom they would vote for as senator ‘if the 2028 elections were held today,’ Octa said.
Results showed that Padilla ranked first on the hypothetical senatorial preference list, making him the only candidate with a reported rank range limited to a single position.
In the previous survey, conducted from June 28 to July 6, Padilla also led the hypothetical senatorial slate with 48.4 percent, placing him within the first- to second-place rank range.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo followed with 47.4 percent, while Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano came next at 45.5 percent, followed by former Sen. Grace Poe with 44.5 percent.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto came next with 42.0 percent, followed by Sen. Loren Legarda with 39.0 percent.
The other names who also registered within or near the preliminary top 12 included former Sen. Manny Pacquiao with 34.5 percent and Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte with 34.3 percent, statistically tied within the rank range of sixth to ninth.
Meanwhile, Ben Tulfo posted 31.0 percent, while Abby Binay had 26.1 percent, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada 25.5 percent, and Mark Lapid 25.0 percent.