Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano has emerged as the top preference for the 2028 senatorial elections, according to the October 2026 WR National Poll by WR Numero Research, the results of which were released on Monday.

The 2028 race will fill 12 of the 24 seats in the Philippine Senate, with winning candidates set to serve six-year terms through 2034. Because the contest falls in the same cycle as the country's next presidential election, senatorial standings at this stage typically draw close attention as parties begin weighing their national lineups.

Mr. Cayetano posted a 39% voter preference, a five-percentage-point gain from the 34% he recorded in WR Numero's June 2026 survey. Senator Robinhood Ferdinand C. Padilla followed at 37%, down from 39% in the previous round.

The remaining prospective contenders for the 12 Senate seats stood as follows: Senator Rafael T. Tulfo and Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto tied at 32%; former Senator Mary Grace S. Natividad Poe-Llamanzares placed at 30%; Senator Francis G. Escudero and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte shared the fifth spot at 27%; Davao City Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte registered 23%; former Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, Sr. and Senator Lorena Regina B. Legarda each had 21%; Makati City Mayor Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay-Angeles posted 15%; and detained Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada, Jr. and broadcaster Bienvenido T. Tulfo were tied at 14% apiece.

WR Numero carried out the survey from Oct. 7 to 13, 2026, using face-to-face interviews with 1,225 Filipino adults residing in the Philippines. As a snapshot of voter preference taken well ahead of the official campaign period, the results reflect standings at a single point in time; the actual ballot will only take shape once aspirants file their certificates of candidacy, and future rounds from the pollster will provide a basis for tracking movement in the rankings.

The report was first published by BusinessWorld. — Francessca S. Abalos