Survey in Bacolod: Leonardia, Puentevella lead candidates

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  â€“ Congressional candidate Mayor Evelio Leonardia and mayoralty aspirant Monico Puentevella, a former congressman, topped the Bombo Radyo-commissioned survey conducted by Random Access Consultants, Inc. (RACI) from April 11 to 13.

The RACI survey polled 1,200 respondents (registered voters) in 40 barangays of this city, asking them on their most preferred candidates for congressman, mayor, vice mayor, and councilors in the May 2013 elections. With a plus-minus 3 percent margin of error, the RACI study, also showed age and demography among the respondents.

Leonardia earned a 44.2 percent rating over his closest rival, incumbent Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez, who has 38.4 percent. Lyndon Cana, a former city councilor, got 14.3 percent, while Ely Sergio Palma had 0.6 percent. About 2.5 percent of the respondents were still undecided on who they will vote for congressman.

Puentevella, standard-bearer of Pamilya MKK (Magbinuligay Kita sa Kauswagan) was preferred for the mayoralty by 60.1 percent of the respondents, against the candidate of NPC Grupo Progreso Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who only got 37.5 percent. Only 2.4 percent of the respondents remained undecided on the mayoralty race.

The survey also indicated that the vice mayoralty race was too close to call with Renecito Novero, an old hand in the city politics, leading by 37.4 percent. His rivals however were not far behind: Former Councilor Greg Gasataya with 30.1 percent and Pamilya MKK’s Vladimir Gonzales with 26.7 percent.

For the councilor bets, front-runner in the so-called Magic 12 was Archie Baribar with 44.4 percent, followed by El Cid Familiaran with 43.8 percent, former Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue (38.9), re-electionist Councilors Bobby Rojas (33.3), Sonya Verdeflor (32.6), Caesar Distrito (30.6), Alex Paglumotan (29.9) and Em Ang (29.2).

Newcomer Kalaw Puentevella, a former Palarong Pambansa tennis athlete, and reelectionist Councilor Carl Lopez were tied at 28.5 percent for the 9 to 10th spots, while former Councilor Jun Gamboa placed 11th with 27.8 percent, and Anne Marie Palermo and Bart Orola with 24.3 percent each to share the 12-13 ranking.

Within striking distance were Elmer Sy with 23.6 percent; Andy Leonardia (22.2) and former DILG-6 regional director Lyzander “Bong” Dilag (20.1), the survey showed. (FREEMAN)