Garcia, Magpale win in USC survey

CEBU, Philippines - If elections were held last month, third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale would have already won based on the results of the survey conducted by the political science students of the University of San Carlos.

The survey conducted by the second year political science students under Cebuano politics class had 6,000 respondents, 1,000 per district, from all of the six districts of the province.

The results show that Garcia won over Hilario “Junjun” Davide, III of the Liberal Party. Garcia got 47.2 percent while Davide only got 45.43 percent.

In the vice gubernatorial race, Magpale won over Garcia’s runningmate, Ramon “Boboy” Durano, IV. The incumbent vice governor got 56.71 percent of the total votes while Durano had 33.83 percent.

The survey answered the question, “kung karon ang adlaw sa piniliay, kinsa ang imo botaran ug ngano? (If elections were held today who would you vote for and why)”

The results were released yesterday at the Marco Polo Plaza by the students’ professor and 888 News Forum host Ricky Rama Poca.

Incidentally, Garcia was among the guests of the forum yesterday. In the first district, Davide won by 52.6 percent over Garcia who only had 46.8 while Magpale got 59.8 percent against 35.7 percent of Durano.

Ironically Davide who hails from the second district lost to Garcia by over 3 percent. Garcia got 46.7 percent while Davide only 43.3 percent.

Respondents reasoned out that the Garcias have contributed much to them in terms of infrastructures and roads.

The youth sector in the district voted for Davide for a change while his runningmate, Magpale got 52 percent against Durano with 32.6 percent.

In the third district where Garcia is the congressman, the latter won by landslide with 57.3 percent while Davide only got 38.3 percent.

Magpale got 55.5 percent while Durano got 36 percent. 

In the fourth district however Davide won with 51 percent while Garcia only got 48 percent. Magpale got 64.3 percent against Durano’s 33.4 percent.

In the fifth district where the two vice gubernatorial candidates came from, Davide got 43.4 percent while Garcia got 35 percent. Magpale got 52.7 percent while Durano got 28 percent.

Garcia again won in the sixth district by 49.3 percent while Davide got 43.9 percent. Magpale got 55.5 percent while Durano got 36.3 percent.

Those who voted in favor of Garcia mostly reasoned out that they wanted to continue what the Garcias have done to their towns while those who voted for Davide wanted to end up the political dynasty of the Garcias.

A big number of those who abstained for the vice gubernatorial race reasoned out that they do not know the candidates. Magpale did not win the vice gubernatorial election in 2010. She assumed the position by succession after the death of the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr.

“If that is an accurate depiction, I consider it as a very positive sign for our candidacy on many fronts for various reasons,” Garcia said.

Garcia said that this is the first time he launches a province-wide campaign while Davide has been exposed since 2010 when he first run for governor.

“Considering that I am almost at par if not even edging higher than my opponent, I consider that a very positive sign and that we are going the right direction,” Garcia added.—(FREEMAN)