by Dave S. Albarado
Gov. Arthur Yap and Vice Gov. Rene Relampahos emerged as winners over Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Senior Board Member Dionisio Victor Balite, according to Bohol Poll 2022 conducted by the Holy Name University (HNU)-Center for Research and Publication.
The survey was conducted from Feb. 28 to March 21, 2022 with a margin of error of +-5 for entire Bohol. There was a total of 400 respondents who participated in the survey.
Based on the results of the voters’ preference survey, Yap garnered a comfortable lead of 54% rating over Aumentado’s 43%.
In the first district, Yap garnered 57% rating while Aumentado only got 38%.
In the City of Tagbilaran, Aumentado, whose family has a home in barangay Cogon, got 50% rating of voters’ preference over Yap’s 35%.
In the third district, where Yap once served as its Congressman from 2010-2019, he maintained a huge lead of 64% over Aumentado’s 34%.
On the other hand, in an unexpected turn of events, Aumentado’s lead over Yap in the former’s congressional district (the 2nd district) was slimmer than expected considering the status that the 2nd district is acknowledged to be Aumentado’s bailiwick. In fact, some raw computations of observers would claim that a statistical tie exists for Aumentado and Yap’s ratings owing to the margin of error in the said district.
To recall, Aumentado is the incumbent Congressman in the 2nd District of Bohol.
Furthermore, according to the survey, 55% of the male respondents prefer Yap as Governor and 53% of the female voters would likely vote for Yap, too.
Across all ages, Yap also leads over Aumentado except for the 25 to 34 years old age bracket.
The Bohol Tribune reached out to Kevin Damalerio, Yap’s political officer, for his comments on the newly-released results of Bohol Poll.
Damalerio said, “if we will look closely at the survey results, I can say that there is no chance that Aumentado can overturn the results in 1 month.”
Damalerio added, “Aris can no longer claim that the 2nd District is his bailiwick. Clearly, what the survey tells us is that, they [Yap and Aumentado] are already in a neck-to-neck battle in the 2nd district.”
Moreover Damalerio said, “Even with the 2nd district’s statistical tie result, it is hard for Aris to catch up since Gov. Yap now enjoys an enormous lead in the first and third districts.”
The Bohol Tribune asked Damalerio what could be the factors affecting Aris’ dismal numbers in the 2nd district.
Damalerio answered, “It is his wife that is pulling him down. As you can see, Jaja [Jumamoy] and Van-van [Aumentado] now are on statistically tied status for their ratings. Yet, it’s quite a gain for Jaja Jumamoy. Why? Because Jaja is the challenger. Suffice it to say, that if the elections were held today, Jaja Jumamoy will emerge victorious. I am sure of that as the numbers are reflecting. Second factor I am seeing is his [Aumentado’s] poor performance as congressman. His performance rating drastically dropped to 59% from a high 86%. What does that mean? It means people are now vigilant. Nahigmata na ang katawhan sa kamatuoran nga wala siyay nahimo sulod sa iyang 9 years as congressman. Although I would also say, nga naa baya pud sya’y nahimo: kana diayng mga 1/4 ug 1/8 nga covered courts nga wala mahuman, iyaha manang proyekto. Apan dili lang gyud na ikapanghambug, mas ikauwaw na ug mahibaw-an sa uban nga wala na mangahuman.”
Damalerio added, “Meanwhile Gov. Yap’s gain in the second district is due to his pro-poor and pro-life programs such as program on agricultural development and food security, water projects, rice assistance, scholarships, financial assistance to [local government unit] LGUs and barangays, senior citizens’ health card, infrastructure projects and others. Nagpasabot lang nga ang tanang programa ug proyekto sa administrasyon ni Gov. Yap nabati ug natagamtaman gyud sa mga kabus ug makaluluoy natong mga kaigsuonan nga maoy gi-una gyud sa pagtagad sa atong gobernador aron mahaw-as sila sa kalisod. Mas gi-una ni Gov. Yap ang basic services gyud sama sa tubig kay luoy kaayo atong mga kaigsuonan nga hangtod karon walay access sa tubig nga mainom sa ilang kabalayan.”
GUV EXPRESSES THANKS TO SUPPORTERS
In a text message to the Bohol Tribune, Gov. Yap said, “I am very happy about the results that I am leading. I credit and thank our supporters for this initial result. But we have to continue to be vigilant because the election is still on May 9. We have to continue informing the people that the victory of Pundok Padayon Bol-anon means more water for the all towns and all barangays, more support for our farmers, more medical assistance for the weak, scholarships for our children, free medicines to the senior citizens and financial assistance to many sectors like [Barangay Livestock Aide] BALA, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers, Day Care Workers, Women Association, Barangay Tanod, People’s Organizations and Cooperatives, Urban Poor and [persons with disability] PWDs. If we can show that we can protect the weak in society, definitely tourism and business will become stronger in Bohol in the future. Let us unite for the future and win this election. Daghang Salamat. Buhat na lang ang atong pasultihon.”
VICE GUBERNATORIAL DERBY
The incumbent vice governor of Bohol Relampagos, enjoys a commanding lead in voters’ preference rating over his rival Balite.
Relampagos has a 72% voters’ preference rating compared to Balite with only 26%.
In terms of voting by district, Relampagos is the choice of 80% of 1st district voters compared to 14% voters’ preference rating for Balite in the 1st district.
Moreover, in the 2nd district, Relampagos is the choice of 70% of polled voters compared to the 29% voters’ preference rating of Balite.
Furthermore, Relampagos is the choice of 64% of third district voters compared to Balite’s 34%.
About 73% of males and 70% of females who participated in the survey said they are voting for Relampagos as vice governor.
CONGRSSIONAL RESULTS
Incumbent first district Rep. Edgar Chatto gains an overwhelming 87% voters’ preference rating over his rivals Marybelle dela Serna (6%) and Fabio Ontong (3%).
The incumbent congressman is the choice of 85% of urban 1st district voters. He is also the preference of 88% of rural voters in the 1st congressional district.
It is a close race between former Senior Board Member Jovanna Jumamoy and Maria Vanessa Aumentado for the 2nd district congressional derby. Jumamoy has a 46% preference rating while Vanessa Aumentado has a rating of 39%.
Considering the margin of error, the two candidates for the 2nd district congressional seat are in a statistical tie.
The two candidates are evenly matched as far as urban voters are concerned with 50% rating each, but Jumamoy is preferred by 46% of rural 2nd district voters compared to 38% of rural voters who chose Vanessa Aumentado.
In the third district, incumbent Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor enjoys a commanding lead over contender Valencia mayor Katrina Lim. Tutor is the choice of 82% of 3rd district voters while Lim can only muster 18%.
About 83% of the rural voters in the third district chose Tutor over Lim. On the other hand, 60% of urban voters in the third district would likely vote for Lim.
TAGBILARAN MAYORALTY RACE
In the race for the mayoralty seat in the capital city of Tagbilaran, First Lady Jane Yap is the overwhelming choice of voters to succeed her husband Mayor John Geesnell Yap.
She garnered a preference rating of 62% compared to her closest pursuer former Tagbilaran City mayor Dan Neri Lim with only 10%.
Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso is at third with 8% voter preference rating, while Coun. Vicente Polinar and Salvio Makinano have 6% and 0% voter preference rating respectively.
Jane Yap is the choice of 68% of female voters and 56% of male voters of Tagbilaran City.
In the vice mayoralty derby in the city, Councilor Adam Jala is preferred by 51% of voters while Councilor Augustinus “Dodong” Gonzaga is the choice of 36% of Tagbilaran City electorate.
Around 44% of males and 58% of females in Tagbilaran City are inclined to vote for Jala as vice mayor.