CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The official start of the campaign period for national positions is a day off yet – Feb. 8, nd already Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona Robredo has taken the pole position in the presidential race.
Robredo emerged the top pick in an online survey conducted by The Voice in Pampanga’s capital from Jan. 20 – Feb. 5.
The Voice, a news and media website with print and online platforms is, at 67 years in existence, the oldest and longest-running newspaper in Central Luzon.
“We have persevered in delivering unbiased and credible information to our readers over the past six decades,” said editor-publisher Lincoln Baluyut.
Survey respondents were particularly asked: “Who gets your vote for President of the Philippines in May 2022?” The same for Governor, City Mayor, and City Vice Mayor.
Survey results showed 65.75 percent of Fernandinos expressing support for the presidential bid of Robredo in the 2022 national elections. Coming in second, by a wide margin, was former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos with 26.06 percent.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso was third with 16.41 percent. Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson came in fourth with 0.8 percent and Senator Emmanuel “Manny/Pacman” Pacquiao was dead last with 0.57 percent of the respondents.
Earlier, Robredo also emerged as the top pick among the presidential candidates in the 2022 elections with 41 percent, based on Data Analysis & Research for Elections (D.A.R.E.) Survey conducted from Dec. 27-31, 2021 to Jan. 3-7, 2022 held in Angeles City.
Delta by landslide
At the provincial level, re-electionist Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda led by the proverbial mile – polling 80.43 percent – over former Candaba mayor Danilo Baylon at 19.57 percent.
The survey did not cover the vice-gubernatorial contest, with the incumbent Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda running unopposed.
Oca leads
At the city level, former congressman and mayor Oscar “Oca” Rodriguez emerged as the man to beat with 59.93 percent, notwithstanding his late filing of his certificate of candidacy as a substitute on Nov. 15, 2021.
Rodriguez, considered the father of San Fernando’s cityhood and World City Mayor Award recipient, was endorsed by Robredo and running mate Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan at the Ten Outstanding Fernandino Aeatds rites here last Friday.
Ranking second is Pampanga 3rd District board member Rosve Henson with 38.55 percent.
The rest of the mayoralty bets received less than one percent among the respondents with incumbent Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin at 0.73 percent; independent candidate Sandy Quiwa at 0.45 percent; and Association of Barangay Captains president Dolores chairman Vilma Caluag at 0.34 percent.
In the vice-mayoralty contest, councilor BJ Tiger Lagman who topped the council votes in 2019 led the survey with 68.91 percent. Former councilor Noel Tulabut polled 24.5 percent; and former barangay chair and incumbent councilor Ariel “Pogi” Carreon at 6.59 percent.
