FORMER President Rodrigo Roa Duterte with 63% rode past broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, who now finds himself in a tie for the second and third spot with Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go with identical 50% in the latest Pulso ng Pilipino Tracking Poll conducted from Feb. 21 to 27.

A total of 1,200 respondents-registered voters were selected at random and were asked: “If the May 12, 2025 elections are to be held today, who among those in the list of senatorial candidates will you vote for. You can choose up to 12 names from the list.”

A showcard with the names of candidates were provided for the respondents to review and choose from.

Despite his being out of office since June 30, 2022 and some miscues in the former President’s public statements, Duterte remains highly popular across all the four super regions.

The survey showed the former strongman posting 53% in the NCR, 63% in Luzon, 66% in the Visayas and as expected 69% in Mindanao.

Broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, who previously led the pre-poll surveys for the 2025 senatorial elections, now finds himself in a tie with Senator Go.with 50% apiece.

Tulfo outpolled Bong Go in the NCR, 57% to 38% and in Luzon with Tulfo posting 61% as against Go Bong Go’s 47%.

But the neophyte senator largely known as the principal patron of the Malasakit Center turned the tables on Tulfo in the Visayas region, 53% to 45% for Tulfo and again, as expected, scored heavily in Mindanao with 64% as against Tulfo’s 37%.

The Malasakit Center which operates satellite offices in major cities and towns throughout the country has been extending financial support for indigents who are in need of medical assistance.

Sharing the fourth to sixth positions were former Senate President and Eat Bulaga mainstay Vicente ‘TitoSen’ Sotto III with 49% the same rating posted by Senator Imee Marcos and former Senator Manny Pacquiao.

Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa is in solo seventh position with 43% and closely trailing him were former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and Senator Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino, who are tied for the eighth to ninth spots with 41%.

Tolentino, host of “Usapang Tol” a one-hour public affairs radio program on DWIZ from Monday to Friday, has been credited for his strong support in the revival of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and in the launching of the First ROTC Games nationwide.

He is currently also the president of the Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas (SKP) and is pushing for the inclusion of kickboxing in the Asian Games and in the Olympics.

Tolentino is also batting for the inclusion of Baseball and Softball in the sports curriculum of public schools beginning from the elementary grades.

Two incumbents — Senators Pia Cayetano and Bong Revilla Jr. — are tied for the 10th and 11th positions with 40% apiece.