Teodoro overtakes Villar in Davao City survey

MANILA, Philippines - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has overtaken Sen. Manuel Villar as the second most preferred presidential candidate – at least in Davao City.

A survey conducted last Feb. 1-8 among 700 city residents by the polling firm Issues and Advocacy Center (The Center) showed Liberal Party candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III leading the race with 37 percent.

Teodoro came in second with 23 percent, followed by Villar, 15 percent; Sen. Richard Gordon, 11 percent; and former President Joseph Estrada, eight percent.

Davao City has more than 948,000 voters.

Former public relations practitioner-turned pollster and political analyst Ed Malay runs The Center. He was the former media handler of President Fidel Ramos, who is said to be supporting Teodoro.

Aquino’s running mate Sen. Mar Roxas was preferred for the vice presidency by 42 percent of the respondents, followed by Villar’s teammate Sen. Loren Legarda, 27 percent; Jejomar Binay, 11 percent; Bayani Fernando, nine percent; and Edu Manzano, eight percent.

In the senatorial race, Ramon Revilla Jr. led with 51 percent, followed by Pia Cayetano, 48 percent; Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 45 percent; Jinggoy Estrada, 44 percent; Vicente Sotto III, 41 percent; Franklin Drilon, 39 percent; Ralph Recto, 39 percent; Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 37 percent; Serge Osmeña, 34 percent; Teofisto Guingona III, 32 percent; Juan Ponce Enrile, 31 percent; and Rozzano Rufino Biazon, 30 percent.

In 13th and 14th slots were Lito Lapid and Joey de Venecia, both with 29 percent.

In the local contest, Speaker Prospero Nograles, who is running for mayor of Davao City, has widened his lead over his opponent, Vice Mayor Sarah Duterte, daughter of incumbent Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Forty-five percent of the respondents preferred Nograles to be their next mayor against Vice Mayor Duterte’s 35 percent.