Former President Rodrigo Duterte remains the top-of-mind senatorial candidate for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, the latest non-commissioned survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. showed.

The poll, conducted from 29 November to 4 December, showed that the former president was the most popular choice for senator, with 59 percent of respondents trusting him and 48 percent planning to vote for him.

Duterte first submitted a certificate of candidacy for a Senate seat in the 2022 national elections, but he later withdrew his candidacy.

The former president, however, had said that he would run for senator if his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, were impeached.

"If you do that, I'll return to politics. I will be forced to," the 78-year-old Duterte said in one of his television programs this year.

"It's either I will run for senator, or I will run for vice president, even if I'm old," he added.

The younger Duterte recently faced criticism due to her use of confidential funds and her initial request for P650 million in similar funds from the 2024 national budget, which she eventually retracted.

Following closely in the survey was former broadcaster turned ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, who garnered 44 percent voting support and a corresponding 44 percent trust rating.

Cardiologist and former vice presidential candidate Willie Ong came in next with 43-percent voting support and a 50 percent trust rating.

"Notably, Erwin Tulfo experienced a drop in support in Mindanao, sliding from 50 percent to 44 percent," the polling firm said.