We expected backlash, drop in surveys after Duterte’s arrest, says Tulfo
Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas candidates (Photo from Philippine News Agency)
SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — Senatorial candidate Erwin Tulfo expected a backlash and lower survey rankings after former President Rodrigo Duterte was flown to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague last March.
But Tulfo on Wednesday said, nowadays, he is content with his current ranking.
The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas bet and ACT-CIS party-list representative pointed out that the survey slips from the previous ranks of senatorial candidates from the alliance were not that massive.
When asked if the slate feels threatened with the rise in popularity of some candidates from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), the lineup backed by Duterte, he said, “no.”
“Normal ‘yun eh, ‘yung sentiment. Everybody knows, ‘di ba, what happened? So ‘yung sentimiyento, ‘yung galit ng mga tao… na ‘ito ang ganti namin.’ We were expecting that eh,” Tulfo said.
(That’s normal, that sentiment. Everybody know what happened, right? So the sentiments, that rage of the people… they believe ‘this is our revenge.’ We were expecting that.)
“The day na FPRRD (Duterte) was sent to The Hague, na-anticipate ko na ‘yon na this is going to happen. So we braced ourselves,” Tulfo recalled.
(The day that FPRRD (Duterte) was sent to The Hague, I was able to anticipate that this was going to happen.)
“Mabuti nga, at least, gano’n lang [ang] nangyari. Pero ngayon, medyo umaangat na kahit papaano. Medyo humuhupa na,” he observed.
(It’s good that, at least, that’s the peak of what happened. But now, our numbers have started to rise. The people’s anger has subsided a bit.)
Tulfo is grateful that many of the Alyansa’s candidates stayed in the Magic 12 despite the wrath of Duterte’s supporters.
“We’re still thankful na hindi naman halos kalahati ang nawala sa amin, ‘di ba? Nandoon pa rin. Majority pa rin ng lineup eh pasok sa, ‘ika nga, mga survey natin,” he noted.
(We’re still thankful that we did not lose half of our lineup, right? They are still there. The majority of the lineup is still inside the Magic 12 surveys.)
During the latter part of 2024, the alliance dominated the senatorial race, with 10 of the then 12-person slate included in the Magic 12.
Tulfo was also consistently the topnotcher in different surveys.
READ: Rep. Tulfo, 9 others from admin slate in Senate ‘Magic 12’ – Pulse Asia
However, recently, the rank of candidates from other slates has risen.
Others are starting to creep into the Magic 12.
While nine Alyansa bets are still inside the winning circle, PDP stalwarts Senator Bong Go and Senator Ronald dela Rosa have climbed their way up, ranking first and sixth.
Tulfo’s brother, broadcaster Ben Tulfo, also is in the Magic 12, ranking eight.
READ: SWS: Go, 9 Alyansa Senate bets top poll
READ: Reelectionist Bong Go leads Pulse Asia survey on senatorial bets
The rise in PDP’s two candidates happened after Duterte was stopped from leaving the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 3 by local authorities.
READ: Plane carrying Rodrigo Duterte leaves PH for The Hague
