Senator Bam Aquino has emerged as the leading political figure in terms of public favorability, according to the newly released PAHAYAG 2026 First Quarter Survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia Inc.
The PAHAYAG first quarter nationwide, independent, non-commissioned survey, which used purposive sampling, was conducted from March 21 to 24 among 1,509 registered voters.
The respondents were randomly selected from the market research panel of PureSpectrum, a U.S.-based panel marketplace with global operations and a regional office in Singapore.
In a period marked by growing public pessimism regarding the national economy and governance, Sen. Aquino holds a commanding 59% net favorable rating. Notably, 30% of respondents described their view of the senator as “very favorable.”
Aquino’s fellow majority members – Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros – placed second and third, respectively with identical 50 percent ratings, while Senators Loren Legarda, Bong Go, Raffy Tulfo, Ping Lacson, Pia Cayetano, Migz Zubiri, and Alan Peter Cayetanorounded out the Top 10.
The survey highlights a “dual crisis narrative” of governance and economic strain that appears to be weighing heavily on sitting officials.
While Aquino’s numbers show strength, the country’s top two leaders have seen their ratings slip:
• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.: Approval dropped to 19% from 22% in Q4 2025, with trust falling to 13%.
• Vice President Sara Duterte: Approval fell to 28% from 34%, though she remains the highest-rated among top incumbent officials.
The surge in favorability for reform-oriented figures like Aquino aligns with the survey’s findings on national issues. The report indicates “near-consensus backing” 88% for tax relief and institutional transparency.
Furthermore, 81% of Filipino votersexpressed support for banning political dynasties up to the second degree suggesting a strong public appetite for the brand of governance reform often associated with Aquino’s legislative track record.
The backdrop of these ratings is a climate of significant economic anxiety. The survey found that 74% of Filipinos are pessimistic about the country’s current condition, with a majority 56% expecting national economic conditions to worsen in the coming quarter.
Publicus Asia – PAHAYAG survey suggests that the electorate is increasingly looking toward leaders who represent accountability and transparency amidst rising costs of living and concerns over government corruption.
The survey conducted in the 1stquarter of 2026 is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project of PUBLiCUS Asia Inc. Publicus Asia was the only survey company to correctly predict that Go and Aquino would finish first and second, respectively, in the 2025 senatorial elections.
