PUBLICUS Asia Inc.’s recent survey reveals that former President Rodrigo Duterte holds the most sway when it comes to endorsing senatorial candidates for the upcoming 2025 elections, with 31% of voters indicating they are more likely to follow his endorsement. This influence surpasses President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (24%) and Vice President Sara Duterte (11%).
Duterte’s influence is especially pronounced in Mindanao, where 55% of voters are likely to back candidates he endorses. In the Visayas, his influence extends to 37% of the electorate, highlighting his enduring political reach beyond his presidency.
President Bongbong Marcos’ stronghold in North-Central Luzon
While former President Duterte leads in nationwide endorsement influence, President Bongbong Marcos garners strong support in North-Central Luzon, with 38% of voters in the region likely to follow his endorsements. His influence in this region aligns with his family’s traditional political base.
NCR and Southern Luzon less receptive to endorsements
In contrast, voters in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Southern Luzon (SL) are more independent in their decision-making, with 46% of NCR voters and 45% of SL voters indicating that they are unlikely to follow any political endorsements. This suggests that candidates in these regions may need to rely more on direct voter engagement rather than high-profile endorsements.
Endorsements could shape the 2025 race
As the 2025 elections approach, endorsements from either Duterte and Marcos will continue to play a significant role in shaping voter preferences, particularly in regions where their influence remains strong. However, the growing number of voters, especially in vote rich areas like NCR and Southern Luzon, who are not swayed by endorsements, indicates that candidates should craft their own messaging and strategies to secure voter support.
PAHAYAG 2024 Senate Preference Baseline Survey, conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc., is an independent and non-commissioned survey. The survey period was from 16 to 17 October 2024 using purposive sampling composed of 1,500 respondents randomly drawn from the market research panel of over 200,000 registered Filipino voters maintained by the Singapore office of PureSpectrum, a US-based panel marketplace with multinational presence.
For more information on the survey methodology and detailed results, please visit http://www.publicusasia.com/pahayag.
File Photo: Bing Gonzales
