Abby, Joy, Isko among leading Metro mayoral bets in survey

The results of the Publicus Asia November 2018 survey confirm the growing preference of Metro Manila voters for younger aspirants as well as seasoned leaders with an effective political machinery.

The noncommissioned survey of 1,800 respondents in different areas was conducted by Publicus Asia which is led by its “very credible” founder/CEO, political strategist, TV host and columnist Malou Tiquia.

The youngest of the leading Metro mayoral candidates is former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s daughter and Erap Estrada’s granddaughter, San Juan incumbent Vice Mayor Janella Ejercito, who is 28 years old.

She is in a close fight with Rep. Ronaldo Zamora’s son, former San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, who is 41 years old.

Janella leads Francis by only a point with 44 percent of the respondents saying they will vote for her, compared to the latter’s 43 percent.

Metro Manila’s youngest incumbent mayor, Valenzuela’s Rex Gatchalian, is running unopposed. The 39-year-old official has a 96 percent voter preference.

Ex-Taguig Rep. Lino Cayetano, who is 40 years old, will be hard to beat with 76 percent of the respondents favoring him. His goal is to succeed his sister-in-law, incumbent Mayor Lani Cayetano.

Incumbent Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, aged 48, registered a 59 percent voter preference over Rep. Bingbong Crisologo with 17 percent.

Another incumbent, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, who is also 48 years old, is running unopposed. He has an 86 percent voter preference.

Forty-seven-year-old Malabon Mayor Antolin “Lenlen” Oreta III, scored a voter preference of 50 percent against his opponent, Rep. Ricky Sandoval’s wife, Jeannie Sandoval, who has 32 percent.

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, who is 42 years old, leads at 67 percent against her brother, Junjun, who has 20 percent.

There was a Social Weather Stations August survey with the same results: 67 percent preferred Abby to her brother.

In the closely contested City of Manila, Publicus Asia sees former Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, 44, leading at 47 percent. Ex-Mayor Alfredo Lim has 29 percent, while incumbent Mayor Erap Estrada posted a voter preference of 21 percent.

The 50-year-old and above candidates is led by incumbent Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who is preferred by 46 percent of the respondents. He is 55 years old.

Mandaluyong’s Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos, 56, is running unopposed. She has a 58 percent voter preference.

Pasig City Mayor Roberto “Bobby” Eusebio is way ahead at 76 percent compared to the Vico Sotto, son of “Bossing” Vic Sotto and Coney Reyes, who scored 8 percent.

Legislators Toby Tiangco, 51, from Navotas, and Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, 58, from Pasay City, are both leading in the survey.

Tiangco, who is running for Navotas mayor, is up by 54 percent against Dan Ang’s 18 percent while Rubiano, who wants to be Pasay mayor, has 47
percent vs megastar Sharon Cuneta’s brother, Chet, with
5 percent.

The seniors are led by Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar, 68 years old, who is running unopposed. She was picked by 68 percent of the respondents.

The mayor of neighboring city Muntinlupa, Jaime Fresnedi, who is also 68, has a 61 percent voter preference.

Another incumbent, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan, 63, is
also unbeatable with a whopping 90 percent.

These numbers will continue to change but the most crucial and important question is: How deep will their pockets be come election time?

* * *

How disgusting is this? There’s a P200-million itemized pet project for every senator and P60 million each per congressman in the proposed 2019 national budget.

If this continues in the three years of their incumbency, every senator will have P600 million worth of accumulated pet projects while every congressman will have P180 million. Politics is indeed big business.

For comments and suggestions, please e-mail [email protected]