CEBU CITY – Two candidates coming from different parties vying for the top two government posts here emerged as the frontrunners in the midterm elections, according to a survey.
The latest Voters’ Preference and Perspectives Survey conducted by the University of San Carlos Department of Political Science showed that incumbent Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is the leading mayoral candidate while former Mayor Tomas Osmeña is the leading candidate for vice mayor.
Results of the survey released on Monday, May 5, showed Garcia of Kugi Uswag Sugbo-Panaghiusa Team securing 35 percent of the voter preference.
Osmeña’s running mate, incumbent City Councilor Nestor Archival, trailed Garcia with 28 percent.
Former Mayor Mike Rama ranked third with 21 percent, followed by Yogi Ruiz with five percent. Independent candidate Julieto Co got zero percent while 11 percent of respondents chose not to answer.
Osmeña, the head of Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan, emerged as the leader in vice mayoral race with 38 percent of the votes.
Incumbent Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros, Rama’s running mate, trailed Osmeña with 29 percent. Garcia’s running mate Joey Daluz was at third with 23 percent.
Ten percent of the respondents did not disclose their choices in the survey conducted from April 11 to 12.
Respondents involved 1,306 registered voters across the city’s 80 barangays.