With a week left before the midterm polls, an independent survey for the mayoral race in 16 cities and one municipality of Metro Manila (National Capital Region or NCR) showed that incumbents and names from known political families comfortably led their opponents and were likely to win.
The only exception was in San Juan City where former San Juan vice mayor Francis Zamora and incumbent Vice Mayor Janella Estrada were fighting neck-and-neck for the seat to be vacated by Mayor Guia Gomez, mother of re-electionist senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito.
In an independent survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc (RPMDinc), Zamora was six points ahead with 53% to Estrada’s 47%. The non-commissioned survey polled 8,000 registered voters in Metro Manila from April 27 to May 1, 2019.
It showed that Josefina “Joy” Belmonte of Quezon City, Mar-len Abigail “Abby” Binay of Makati City, Imelda “Emi” Calixto Rubiano of Pasay City, Lino Cayetano of Taguig City, Robert “Bobby” Eusebio of Pasig City and Tobias “Toby” Tiangco of Navotas City were also leading their opponents with big margins.
The survey showed that Belmonte would be hard to beat with her 60% lead against Vincent “Bingbong” Crisologo, who posted 32%. Former lawmaker Ismael “Chuck” Mathay 3rd received only 4%. Meanwhile, Binay still enjoyed a strong lead of 64% against her brother, former mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr, who posted 34%. In the closely contested race in Manila, former vice mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso was leading at 50%. Incumbent Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada had 33%, while ex-mayor Alfredo Lim posted a voter preference of 15%.
In Taguig City, Cayetano, brother-in-law of incumbent Mayor Maria Laarni “Lani” Cayetano, garnered 67% against Taguig-Pateros Rep. Arnel Cerafica, who only got 30%.
Tiangco, who is running for Navotas mayor, was up by 76% against Dan Israel “DI” Ang’s 20%.
In Pasay City, Rubiano led with 74%, while Cesar “Chet” Cuneta, son of the late Pasay Mayor Pablo Cuneta, had 15%. Pasig City Mayor Eusebio was also way ahead at 66% compared to Vico Sotto, son of actor-comedian Vic Sotto and actress Coney Reyes, who scored 33%. Also leading were Valenzuela Mayor Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian (95%), Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez (62%) and Malabon Mayor Antolin “Lenlen” Oreta (65%). In the cities of Mandaluyong, Caloocan and Muntinlupa, incumbent candidates pulled away in the poll with Mayor Carmelita Abalos (97%), Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan (93%) and Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (57%) leading.
Dr Paul Martinez of RPMDinc said the incumbents, kin, seasoned leaders and those with big names were winning the race.