Local LP bets top SWS survey in Mandaue City

CEBU, Philippines - Most of the local candidates of the administration Liberal Party topped in the special survey conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) in Mandaue City last March 10-12.

The survey was commissioned by lawyer Victor Rodriguez, aself-confessed supporter of incumbent sixth district Representative Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Quisumbing, LP's mayoralty candidate in Mandaue City. The special survey allegedly had 400 respondents.

Quisumbing was ahead by nine percent in the mayoralty race against incumbent Councilor Emmarie "Lolypop" Ouano-Dizon. Quisumbing got 49percent while Dizon had 40 percent.

In the vice mayoralty race, former vice mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna (LP) got 45 percent against Councilor Bethoven Andaya (One Cebu)with 30 percent and six percent for Estanislao Sanchez Jr. (independent).

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes (LP) got a huge margin of 61percent against Paulus MariaeCañete (One Cebu) who got 15 percent in the congressional race.

For governor, incumbent Governor Hilario Davide III (LP) got 34 percent against former Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Winston Garcia (One Cebu) with 23 percent.

Roliveth "KlasmitBoyet" Cortes (independent) got 12 percent.

For vice governor, former sixth district congresswoman Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (One Cebu) got 43 percent against 31 percent of incumbent Vice Governor Agnes Magpale (LP) and two percent for Nene Montenegro (independent).

Soon-Ruiz is a Mandauehanon and has a lot of relatives in the city.

The SWS survey, however, did not state in the result the margin of error.

Rodriguez clarified that LP has nothing to do with the survey. He saidhis interest in commissioning the survey was for Quisumbing.

According to him, he wants to know whether Quisumbing's platform of government is responsive to the real needs of Mandauehanons.

He said the questionnaire was not only about election preference but also included socio-economic survey.

"Is his platform really responsive to the pressing needs, I just wanted it done so we will know the need of Mandaue," he said.

While he found the SWS survey result encouraging, Rodriguez said Quisumbing still has to work even harder and validate the pulse of the people.

Prior to the survey, SWS disowned Independent Research Institute as being affiliated to them when it released survey result showing that Ouano-Dizon got 64 percent against Quisumbing with 23 percent.

"Social Weather Stations (SWS) hereby informs the public that SWS hasno affiliation to the group, Independent Research Institute (IRI), asclaimed in the flyer being distributed by said group in Mandaue City, Cebu," read their February 19, 2016 post in their website.

The flyer shows the results of a survey, allegedly conducted from January 20-23, 2016. —/FPL (FREEMAN)