New polling shows the vice-president with a clear lead, even as impeachment proceedings against her are ongoing
4-MIN READ4-MIN ListenSam BeltranPublished: 12:00pm, 10 Apr 2026Her father is in custody at The Hague, her alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has collapsed into bitter rivalry and she is fighting to halt impeachment proceedings before the Supreme Court.Despite all of that, Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio is still, by a distance, the early favourite to be the country’s next president.A new survey by Manila-based pollster WR Numero found 36 per cent of Filipinos would vote for Duterte-Carpio if the 2028 election were held today – a 17-point lead over her nearest rival.
The poll surveyed 1,455 adults nationwide from March 10 to 17 and was released on Tuesday.
Philippines’ Sara Duterte to run for presidentDuterte-Carpio was the clear front runner in a list of 12 names, leading by 17 points against Senator Raffy Tulfo, who ranked second, and 20 points against former vice-president Leni Robredo, who ran against Marcos Jnr in the 2022 election.
