On February 18, Tangere Acquisition App Inc. President and CEO Martin Penaflor revealed that Ben “Bitag” Tulfo and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo are closely competing for a spot in the 2025 senatorial race, based on the latest survey results. The survey, conducted from February 10-13, 2025, involved 2,400 respondents, with a margin of error of ±1.96%.
Tangere, with over 1 million users since its 2018 launch, conducted the survey using a mix of traditional face-to-face methods and automated data collection, ensuring no manipulation. The majority of respondents (80%) came from Class D, with 51% of them from Mindanao, 23% from Metro Manila, and 20% from the Visayas. The survey also highlighted key voter issues like education, labor, employment, and food security.
Ben Tulfo has gained ground, particularly in Mindanao, while Erwin Tulfo’s support has decreased by 10%. The survey also revealed that Bong Go leads in Metro Manila, while Senator Tito Sotto is less favored there compared to other regions. Other notable figures like Sen. Imee Marcos and Sen. Tolentino have seen declining support, especially in Mindanao. The survey indicates a shift in voter preferences, with 53% of respondents favoring the Tulfos.
Additionally, the survey revealed that many voters, especially younger ones, get their information from Facebook, TV, and YouTube, and are likely to vote for candidates supporting the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. Tangere’s results suggest that the race remains fluid, with the top six candidates interchanging positions as the election approaches.
The survey was conducted without human intervention, meaning the data was automatically collected and could not be manually manipulated. This survey, conducted face-to-face, involved 100 researchers or enumerators nationwide. It focused on pre-election senatorial preferences and was carried out by another survey firm.
A total of 2,400 respondents participated, with a margin of error of ±1.96%. The sampling method used was stratified random sampling, ensuring a balanced gender representation (50% male and 50% female). Most respondents (80%) came from Class D, and 14% of the respondents were aged 51 and above. The geographic breakdown showed that 12% were from NCR, 23% from NCL, 22% from SL, 20% from Visayas, and 23% from Mindanao.
According to Penaflor, this was a non-commissioned survey. The race for the top spot is neck and neck between Ben and Erwin Tulfo, with Erwin’s support declining by 10%, now at 63.33%. Go’s numbers rose, particularly due to his Malasakit program. He ranked first among voters aged 36-50 and second in Mindanao. He was also ranked within the top 3 in Metro Manila.
Sotto performed well with those aged 51 and above, a group less influenced by celebrity endorsements. The 1.96% gap in the results was not statistically significant. Revilla’s support was particularly strong among female voters. Sen. Bong’s popularity also grew due to female respondents.
Abalos saw an increase in NCL across all regions, rising to 37.13% from 36%. The average number of candidates selected by respondents was 9.25%, a drop from the previous 25% who had selected 12 candidates. Pacquiao’s support in NCR decreased, although he remained particularly popular in Mindanao.
Sen. Bato ranks second in Mindanao, with the Duterte Youth Partylist also securing the second spot in the region. Willie Revillame performs well among voters aged 18 and above. Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino are in a statistical tie, ranking between 11th and 14th. In terms of administration candidates, Ben Tulfo and Erwin Tulfo have replaced two or three others. Sen. Tolentino has one of the lowest ratings, particularly in Mindanao, and Sen. Imee also saw a decline in the region.
Vic Rodriguez enjoys strong name recognition and voter support, partly due to his “suka” association, while Atty. Jimmy Bondoc also stands out. Benhur Abalos and Bong Revilla benefit from the popularity of the letter “B.” Bong Go tops the rankings in Metro Manila, with Ben Bitag Tulfo following closely. Tito Sotto lags behind in Metro Manila compared to other regions, despite being at 22%.
Sen. Imee’s approval rating averaged nearly 60% in December. Not all administration candidates enjoy strong backing from Solid North, and Bong Go’s numbers are lower in Calabarzon. However, Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan perform strongly in Southern Luzon, while in Soccsksargen and Davao Region, Sen. Bato and Willie Revillame see significant support.
A survey of 300 Iglesia Ni Cristo respondents revealed their political preferences. The majority support Ben and Erwin Tulfo, with 53% voter preference. Other favored candidates include Bong Go, Bato Dela Rosa, and Willie Revillame (among the 26-35 age group). Among respondents aged 51 and above, Tolentino and Imee Marcos rank in the top 12.
Key issues influencing their choices include education, labor and employment, and food security. They prefer candidates who are not corrupt, honest, and God-fearing. Their main sources of information are Facebook, TV, and YouTube.
Additionally, 73% believe that Vice President Sara Duterte should address the allegations against her, and many are inclined to vote for candidates who support her impeachment. The admin-backed candidates have strong support from Northern Luzon, accounting for 23% of their base. Meanwhile, the top six candidates remain in a stable position, only shifting rankings among themselves.
McDonald’s is noted as one of the biggest clients of Tangere, the survey firm.
Doc Willie Ong, Chavit Singson, and Wilbert Lee still appeared in the survey due to a lack of awareness about their withdrawal from the senatorial race, creating an opportunity for other candidates to gain their votes.
In Abra province, television remains the primary source of information.
The release of Director Daryl Yap’s movie Pepsi Paloma influenced voter preference among respondents aged 18-25 but had no impact on those 51 and older regarding Tito Sen.
Senatorial aspirant Mar Valbuena ranked No. 42 in the survey.
Meanwhile, Tangere awarded 300 winners with P300 each in their raffle through their Tangere Community App duly registered with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
