Two of remaining councilors will ‘return,’FM radio survey bares

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY -- Two incumbent councilors who opted for reelection will make it on May, while six of their colleagues will find themselves out of City Hall when the new administration takes over on July, according to a radio survey.

Lawyer Nicasio Aliping, Jr. came out on top of the survey held recently by 95.1 Love Radio, while former vice mayor Betty Lourdes Tabanda came in third best among 289 respondents in the FM radio count.

Aliping scored 10.2 percent or 30 of the respondents eye him fit for the job in the 12-men (women) council, while Tabanda scored 7.5 percent or 16 persons were in favor of the second time reelectionist.

Former number one councilor Elmer Datuin appeared to make a good comeback after failing in his bid for vice mayor the last polls. The lawyer scored 8.2 percent.

Nine persons, all newcomers, were tied with seven percent each.

They are, in alphabetical order: Laurence Adube, Carlos Asiatico, Roi David, Reynaldo Diaz, Mabini Maskay, Ronald Perez, Lorenzo Pilando, Lourdes Teliaken and Rafael Wasan.

Those who failed to make the cut are incumbents Erdolfo Balajadia (6.5 percent), Fred Bagbagen, Richard Carino (4.8 percent), Perlita Chan Rondez (3.5 percent), Isabelo Cosalan, Jr. and Nicasio Palaganas, who each garnered three percent.

Failed to make the mark were some of the more famous political names including comebacking Edilberto Tenefrancia (3 percent), former councilors Narciso Padilla (2 percent) and Rufino Panagan (3 percent).

Popular names like Tabora (Cynthia Tabora-Tuason) and Fianza (Peter) did not make it with 2.4 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.

The higher positions saw the return of the Big Three from the Timpuyog with former three term congressman Bernardo Vergara whopping it up over his eight other opponents with 44 percent, Mauricio Domogan a run away winner and Daniel Farinas swamping his two other rivals.

Vergara garnered 44 percent as his four strong rivals got 14 percent (Edgar Avila and Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr.), 12 percent for Rocky Thomas Balisong and nine percent for Leandro Yangot, Jr.

Amazingly, former mayor and Vergara archrival Braulio Yaranon got not a single vote and was even beaten by his former secretary Rabindranath Quilala who got seven percent.

Domogan got 67 percent, while most of his rivals got a single digit except Elaine Sembrano who got 17 percent.

Mark Go came in the third best with seven percent, five percent for Jose Molintas and two each from Butch Mandapat and former two term mayor Ramon Labo. The remaining four got zero votes.

Farinas whopped it up with 70 percent, with Faustino Olowan taking in 27 percent and three for Carol Domalsin.

Meanwhile, the Highland Market Vendors which conducted its own mock elections this week with 75 respondents.

Balisong topped all congressional candidates with 24 percent, Quilala came in second with 20 percent, Yangot with 18.67 percent.

The rest was 12 percent for Vergara, 9.33 percent for Avila, 5.33 percent for Yaranon and four percent for Bautista.

Four percent were undecided in the top position.

Domogan came in the top choice anew with 48 percent, Sembrano second with 20 percent, 14.67 for Molintas, Labo getting 9.33 and Mandapat with 5.33 percent.

Farinas even counted good with the highland vendors as he took in 50.67 percent, while rival Olowan was second with 41.33 percent.