ILOILO City – “Sin-o gabayad?” Who commissioned it?
This was Mayor Jose Espinosa III’s reply when asked about a recent survey showing him trailing Cong. Jerry Treñas in the race for mayor.
“Pamangkota bala anay sin-o nagbayad. Bal-an tag-P300,000 ina. Alangan ka man magpapirdi kon ikaw nagbayad (You ask around who commissioned the survey. I heard it was P300,000. Why would you agree to come out the loser in your own survey),” said Espinosa.
Treñas maintained his lead over Espinosa III in the fourth mayoral survey for the May 13, 2019 midterm elections conducted by Random Access Consultants, Inc.
The survey among 600 respondents of voting age from 60 barangays was held on Nov. 24 and 25, 2018.
“Kon ako magbayad, daog man ko e (I would surely win, too, if I commission a survey),” Espinosa told city hall reporters.
In the survey, Treñas scored 58 percent, outnumbering the combined votes of five other candidates for mayor, namely Espinosa with 28.3 percent; Dr. Pacita Gonzalez, 9.5 percent; Carmelo Carreon, 1.2 percent; Efren Gimeo, 0.5 percent; and Steve Abitang, 0.2 percent.
The undecided respondents comprised 2.3 percent.
“Nakita na ina ya ah. Updanay man kami sang una ah (I know how this works. We used to be allies),” said Espinosa.
Espinosa ran and won as vice mayor thrice (in the 2010, 2013 and 2016 elections) in tandem with Treñas as congressman. In October 2017 Espinosa, by operation of law, became the city mayor after the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog from government service for unexplained wealth.
Espinosa said he was not bothered by the survey. He claimed it was being used to condition the public’s mind.
“Ang pinakanami nga survey ang election (The most reliable survey is the election itself),” said Espinosa.
According to the mayor, he had never commissioned a survey since joining city politics beginning as councilor.
In this latest survey, Treñas’ vice mayoral running mate under Team Uswag, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, bagged 62.5 percent while Councilor Plaridel Nava trailed behind with 24.7 percent; Councilor R. Leone Gerochi, 9.8 percent; and Constancio Caro Jr., 0.3 percent.
The undecided was at 2.7 percent.
Team Uswag’s candidate for congresswoman, Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda, likewise bested her opponents with 48.2 percent; followed by Councilor Joshua Alim, 40.7 percent; and former councilor Perla Zulueta, 8.7.
The undecided was at 2.5 percent.
The survey covered seven districts. These were the following:
* Arevalo (six barangays)
* City Proper (nine barangays)
* Jaro (15 barangays)
* La Paz (seven barangays)
* Lapuz (five barangays)
* Mandurriao (seven barangays)
* Molo (11 barangays).
The survey used multi-stage probability as sampling methodology. It had 95 percent level of confidence from data collected through face-to-face interviews with residents 18 years old and above, and with a margin of error of ±4 percent./PN
