Incumbent Governor and Liberal Party (LP) candidate for Governor Edgar Chatto and his running mate incumbent Vice Governor Concepcion Lim clearly emerged on top of the voter’s preference list to serve their 3rd and last terms as governor and vice governor based on independent surveys conducted by the Holy Name University Center of Research and Publication.
Chatto hammered a convincing 79% against his rival, incumbent Loay Mayor Rosemarie Imboy’s 18% while Lim sustained her lead over Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-LBN) vice gubernatorial candidate 3rd district Board Member Atty. Dionisio Balite 60% to 40%. However, the dominance of the LP in the province is not 100% sure to let LP presidental bet Mar Roxas win especially that reports were monitored that some LP stalwarts were campaign for presidential bet, Senator Grace Poe.
Both Chatto and Lim experienced a slight dip of 5% and 7% respectively while Imboy gained 8% and Balite 9% increase.
Lim maintained her lead in Tagbilaran City, 1st and 2nd districts but Balite is now holding on to a 54% to 46% lead against Lim in the 3rd district recovering from a 4% gap in the last HNU-Bohol Poll 2016 survey where Lim had a slight edge 51% to 47%.
Other contenders for governor – Â Kilusan Bagong Lipunan (KBL) Cipriano Gaudicos and Partido ng Manggagawa at Mangigisda (PMM) Wenceslao Garcia scored 2% each with Independent Kary Balagosa scored 1%.
CONGRESSIONAL RACE
The race for congressman of the 3rd district shows no clear winners with incumbent representative Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) Arthur Yap in a tight spot against former Carmen Mayor PDP-LBN Conchita Toribio-delos Reyes.
Yap slipped by 21% from 73% to 52% while Toribio-delos Reyes bounced back with a score of 48%, a high jump of 22% from a low of 26%.
By contrast, Relampagos is enjoying an 82% margin against the two candidates, UNA Joahna Cabalit-Initay and PDP-LBN Cresencio Alturas both with 6%.
Also, in the 2nd district, incumbent congressman, NPC Erico Aristotle Aumentado has widened his lead over National Unity Party (NUP) 2nd district Board Member Gerardo Garcia 81% to 19%. However, Aumentado is not with the Liberal Party. He is with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) with Jejomar Binay as his presidential bet.
(Erratum:Â The photo of Rep. Aumentado appeared in the front page under the title “Local LP bets to win in Bohol.” He is not an LP member. Our apologies. -ed)
BOARD MEMBERS
In the race for the 3rd slot for 1st district board members, it’s a toss-up between LP Ricky Masamayor 38% and PDP-LBN Donald Sevilla 35% with Tagbilaran City going for Sevilla 36% to Masamayor 25%.
Incumbent Board Members under the LP banner, Alfonso Damalerio and Vencenzio Arcamo scored 71% and 70% respectively.
In the 2nd district, two incumbent board members under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) are on two different poles, with Tomas Abapo, Jr. leading the seven man pack with 61% and Antonio Ouano, Jr. 13% is on the 6th place.
LP’s Giehrjem Puracan 59%, Agapito Avenido 52% and Jonel Torregosa 40% is on the 2nd and 3rd and 4th place in the preference list of voter’s while Bien Unido Mayor Nino Rey Boniel 27% for 5th and Independent Santos Abella 11% bringing the rear.
A crowded field of nine candidates are jostling for the four slots for board member in the 3rd district. Considered a closely contested battle with incumbents LP Elpidio Jala 68% and PDP-LBN Godoreda Tirol 60%, PDP-LBN Dionisio Victor Balite 57% in the top three.
The last two slots are being challenged by LP Kristine Alexie Tutor 46% LP Jane Jade Bautista 45%, former Provincial Police Director Sancho Bernales 30%, PDP-LBN Nathaniel Binlod 28%, Barangay Valladolid Barangay Captain PDP-LBN Noel Bongolto 14% and PMM Laureano Omac 2%.
The phrase “all politics is local” brings to the fore the political skills, experience and money of all candidates in the province of Bohol but will the voters reject the lure of money to determine the next three years of government on Monday, May 9, 2016? (Chito M. Visarra)