Independent survey shows Timpuyog trio in top slates

By Joel B. Belinan

BAGUJO CITY -- If an election were held last week of March, the Timpuyog would have won the three top positions in the city with congressman and mayoralty candidate Mauricio Domogan winning by a wide margin over his nine rivals, and the congressional candidate of the slate, Bernardo Vergara, and incumbent Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas would have also prevailed over their opponents.

This is shown in the latest survey conducted by an independent group from Iloilo and commissioned by the Bombo Radio Station. The group conducted a random survey among 1200 respondents from selected barangays from March 21 to 28.

In the survey, Domogan gained the nod of 59.4 percent of the respondents while his opponents in the mayoralty race were way below: Jose Molintas was a far second getting only 14.7 percent; Elaine Sembrano third getting with 5.3 percent.

Jun Labo got 4.9 percent; Mark Go 3 percent and Julius Mandapat with 1.5 percent. The remaining four got less than 1 percent.

In the congressional race, Vergara got 23.3% or with just a 5% lead over his closest rival, Rocky Thomas Balisong. At third place was Leqandro Yangot who garnered 13.8% and at fourth place were Edgar Avila and Reinaldo Bautistat, each getting 8.8%, closely followed by Braulio Yaranon. The three other congressional candidates got 1% each.

In the vice mayoralty race, Farinas might retain his post with his comfortable approval rating of 51.3% as against the 25.7% garnered by Faustino Olowan. The other vice mayoralty aspirant, Carol Domalsin got 8.0% approval.

In the race for the 12-member city council, the survey showed all the incumbent councilors running for the same position would be able to make it. Nic Aliping topped the list getting 32.0% followed by Edilberto Balajadia, 28.3%; then Lourdes Tabanda, 26.1%; Peter Fianza, 23.6%; Elmer Datuin, 23.3%; Popo Cosalan, 19.8%; Richard Carino, 19.7%; Philian Weygan, 19.5%; Edison Bilog, 19.6%; Fred Bagbagen, 17.3%; Pinky Chan Rondez, 16.1; and Nick Palaganas, 16.1%.

At 13th place was former councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia (13.8%), Cyntia Tabora (10.3%) was at 14th, and Alexander Ortega (9.7) at 15th.

The survey also included the presidential candidates with Noynoy Aquino getting 34.3%, Manny Villar, 25.0%; Gibo Teodoro, 14.4%; Erap Estrada, 7.6%; Eddie Villanueva, 3.3%; Richard Gordon, 2.6%; Nick Perlas, 0.3%; and De Los Reyes, 0.1%. For the vice presidential race, Mar Roxas lead the pack with 45.8% followed by Loren Legarda, 22.6%; Jojomar Binay, 15.0%; Bayani Fernando, 3.0%; Edu Manzano, 1.4%; Perfecto Yasay, 0.8%; and Jay Sonza, 0.2%.