Belmonte, Cayetano would be runaway winners in 2019 polls

MANILA, Philippines — If the elections were held today, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and Lino Cayetano would win as mayor of Quezon City and Taguig, respectively.

Belmonte would dominate the mayoralty race in Quezon City as she garnered 59 percent of the votes, according to a latest survey conducted by Publicus Asia Inc.

Her rival, Bingbong Crisologo, received only 17 percent. The rest of the candidates for mayor of Quezon City got two percent.

For the vice mayoralty race, Belmonte’s runningmate, Gian Sotto, led the pack with 42 percent. Jopet Sison garnered 15 percent and Roderick Paulate got 13 percent. 

Lino Cayetano, brother of former foreign affairs secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, topped the survey for  the mayoralty race in Taguig City.

Cayetano, of the Nacionalista Party, garnered 76 percent votes over PDP-Laban’s Arnel Cerafica with 15 percent. Independent candidate Sonny Boy Andrade got one percent. 

Cayetano’s runningmate, Ricardo Cruz Jr., received 65 percent. PDP-Laban’s bet Henry Dueñas got 18 percent.

The survey, conducted from Nov. 16 to 20, interviewed 1,800 voters aged 18 to 35 years in Metro Manila.

In Manila, Isko Moreno would win the mayoral race with 47 percent over incumbent Mayor Joseph Estrada, who received 21 percent. Former mayor Alfredo Lim garnered 29 percent.

The survey said it would be a tight race between Honey Lacuna and Amado Bagatsing for vice mayor.

In San Juan City, Janella Estrada, daughter of former senator Jinggoy Estrada, topped the survey with 44 percent. Her rival, former vice mayor Francis Zamora, received 43 percent.

In Makati, Abigail Binay topped the polls with 67 percent against her brother, Junjun Binay, who garnered 20 percent. Another mayoral bet Ricky Yabut got two percent.

Pasig City Mayor Robert Eusebio, who is seeking reelection, topped the polls with 76 percent against Vico Sotto’s eight percent.

Toby Tiangco dominated the mayoral survey in Navotas with 54 percent. His rival, Dan Ang, got 18 percent.

Incumbent Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, who is running unopposed, garnered 86 percent votes. Marion Andres, who is running for vice mayor, received 67 percent.

Reelectionist Muntinlupa Mayor Jimmy Fresnedi and Celso Diok­no, who is running for vice mayor, topped the polls with 61 percent and 35 percent, respectively.

In Caloocan, Oscar Malapitan is way ahead in the mayoralty race after receiving 90 percent of the votes. Rex Gatchalian also dominated the mayoral contest in Valenzuela with 96 percent.

Malou Tiquia, founder and chief executive officer of Publicus Asia, said the firm would continue conducting surveys in preparations for the 2022 presidential elections.

“It is our commitment in building a mature political discourse in the country,” Tiquia said.