WITH the 2025 national and local elections drawing closer, the Duterte family continues to enjoy strong support, according to a recent survey done by Ateneo de Davao University.
In the Blue Vote 2025 survey, former President Rodrigo Duterte is shown to be the top choice for Davao City mayor, with 68.37 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him. His children are also leading in their own races, showing that the family remains a major political force to reckon with in the city.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who is running for vice mayor and the former president’s youngest son, got the support of 60 percent of those surveyed for another term. In the race for Congress, Paolo Duterte led in District 1 with 56 percent, while his son, Omar Duterte, was ahead in District 2 with 50 percent. In District 3, Representative Isidro Ungab came out on top with 40 percent.
For city council positions, Luna Acosta ranked highest in District 1, Danny Dayanghirang led in District 2, and Sweet Advincula was the favorite in District 3.
At the national level, Senator Bong Go, a close ally of the Dutertes, was the top senatorial pick with 55 percent. He was followed by Bam Aquino with 51 percent. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa came in third with 42 percent, while Heidi Mendoza and Luke Espiritu got 40 percent and 38 percent, completing the top five.
Blue Vote 2025 surveyed 474 members of the university community about their political views and preferences. It included students, teachers, school staff, administrators, and members of the school’s religious formation groups.
While the official campaign for national candidates started in February, only 49 percent of those surveyed said they had seen the full list of candidates, while the rest said otherwise.
Dr. Randell Espina, dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture, leads the university-led survey aimed at encouraging informed and active citizenship. Entirely school-funded and unaffiliated with any political group, the project seeks to understand how people in the university community — students, faculty, and staff — view local and national issues, and what they value in leaders.
The survey included respondents from across Mindanao, with 29 percent identifying as registered voters from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm). Of those, 86 percent were aware of the region's upcoming parliamentary elections — originally set for May 12, now moved to October 13, 2025, following a law signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Asked about their top concerns, male respondents pointed to traffic, illegal drugs, and low wages, while women prioritized traffic, low pay, peace and order, and environmental risks like flooding and landslides.
On national matters, 73 percent supported continuing peace talks with communist groups, while views on lifting the constitutional ban on political dynasties were more divided, 36 percent were undecided and 26 percent opposed any change.
The survey also explored legislative priorities. Men leaned toward improving health facilities, maintaining peace and order, and tackling corruption. Women emphasized health care and anti-corruption measures equally, with peace and order a close third.
Fr. Antonio Basilio, S.J., vice president for higher education and a member of the university’s research council, said the survey highlights what matters to the community and how they engage politically. It’s part of the school’s broader commitment to nurturing responsible, informed voters.
Results were shared publicly on March 28 through a Zoom forum, livestreamed on Facebook. DEF