ALMOST all senatorial candidates endorsed by former President Rodrigo Duterte ranked among the top 12 choices of Dabawenyos, according to a recent survey by the University of Mindanao’s Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO).
The survey was conducted from April 9 to 24, 2025, across Davao City’s three districts, with 1,204 registered voters participating in face-to-face interviews. It has a 95 percent confidence level and a three percent margin of error.
Reelectionist Senator Christopher “Bong” Go of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) topped the list, garnering support from 63.54 percent of respondents. Go has served as senator since 2019 and was formerly Duterte’s special assistant.
Close behind was fellow PDP-Laban reelectionist Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, with 63.37 percent. In third place was Atty. Jimmy Bondoc, also of PDP-Laban, with 43.11 percent.
Independent candidate and incumbent SAGIP party-list representative Rodante Marcoleta placed fourth with 42.94 percent, followed by actor Phillip “Ipe” Salvador of PDP-Laban in fifth with 42.36 percent. Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), ranked sixth with 42.11 percent. Quiboloy is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail, facing charges under Republic Act No. 7610, and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Completing the top nine were PDP-Laban candidates Jayvee Hinlo (seventh, 40.12 percent), Richard Mata (eighth, 39.95 percent), and Raul Lambino (ninth, 39.04 percent).
Independent candidate Atty. Vic Rodriguez, former executive secretary to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., placed 10th with 35.80 percent.
Popular TV host and businessman Wilfredo “Willie” Revillame, also running independently, secured the 11th spot with 7.39 percent, while former Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary Erwin Tulfo rounded out the list at 12th place.
Before his transfer to The Hague in the Netherlands, Duterte publicly endorsed eight PDP-Laban candidates—Go, Dela Rosa, Hinlo, Bondoc, Lambino, Salvador, Marcoleta—as well as independent candidates Rodriguez and Quiboloy.
Additional endorsements followed: Richard Mata was endorsed on April 13, while on April 24, Duterte added retired Colonel Ariel Querubin and former Senator Gringo Honasan to his list, according to Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte.
RGP