IN THE latest survey conducted by the University of Mindanao-Institute of Public Opinion (UM-IPO), the result for local elective positions favors all candidates under the banner of the party of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte – from Davao City Mayor, Congressmen, and councilors in the three districts.
Of course, the positions of City Mayor and Vice Mayor are certain to be taken easily by the former President and his son Baste, respectively. Another possible easy journey back to the House of Representatives is that of the third district where incumbent Rep. Isidro Ungab is smooth sailing based on the same UM-IPO survey.
That of the first district also appears to have incumbent Cong Pulong on his way to reelection, based on the same survey. But still, the tussle may have some semblance of a good fight. That is, if PBA Partylist lawmaker Migs Nograles, the incumbent congressman’s challenger, will be able to make some adjustments in her poll drive that for now appears to be more elitist than pro-masses.
But what we believe a contest that could still be exciting and closely fought is that of the second congressional district where Javi Garcia Campos who is running under the wings of the national administration, is pitted against Omar Duterte, a candidate under the PDP-Laban of his grandfather former President Duterte.
With councilor Javi having served for one term as city councilor, he is likely to have gained headway over Omar, another Congressman Pulong’s son who had just served for a little over a year as barangay captain of Buhangin. One possible advantage of Campos in his battle to the House with the literally “raw” Omar is his being a member of the politically-entrenched Garcia clan in the said district.
There is no doubt Campos, being a councilor of the district may have already penetrated even the remotest villages of the district since he is mandated to serve all the constituents thereat. For his part, Omar has no obligation to go to other areas outside Buhangin.
Of course, if running for Congress in the second district is his foremost intention or that of his family, he cannot be prevented from visiting other villages outside Buhangin.
And if being a Duterte scion is added as a qualification, then he surely possesses some degree of advantage over his nemesis.
Although the UM-IPO survey shows a comfortable lead by Omar against Javi, the figures in the study represent only a very insignificant number of respondents. It, therefore, means that the final survey involving the entire electorate of the second district will be the final respondents to reveal the true winner in the Congressional race.
On the other hand, we have been openly manifesting our prediction in this space, that the likely number one vote-getter for councilors in the first district is FPRRD’s grandson by son Congressman Pulong Duterte – Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte III.-
Quite correctly, the UM survey results will likely back us up. Rigo is on top of the heap. And with barely 12 more days to the election, the trend is not likely to change.
One other thing we have observed though, is that most of those who are in the “win” circle among council aspirants in all the three Davao City districts are incumbents. There are an insignificant few who barged into the win column based on the UM-IPO survey. But they are mostly scions of incumbent dads who are completing their third 3-year terms.
Surprising us a bit is the absence of the name of re-electionist Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz of the third district. Ortiz, who is a long-time chair of the powerful Finance, Appropriations, and Ways and Means Committee, seems to be eased out by come-backing Petite Principe and second-time runners Bebot Clarion and Jopit Baluran.
Meanwhile, among the aspirants for the City Council for the first district, close relatives seem to gain the upper hand. Pilar Braga’s grandson is one of the potential winners. Another is re-electionist Bonz Militar, a scion of the late Boni.
But again, the final arbiter is the result of the voting on May 12. So, those who failed to get into the win list in the UM-IPO survey still have some 12 days of diving into their campaign and hope for the best.
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The conduct of this year’s midterm elections is already characteristic of that of a Presidential poll. The most vicious mud-slinging is heaped on politicians with ambitions to national positions as well as the political parties now strongly at odds with each other.
We can only imagine what it would be like when the campaign for the 2028 Presidential derby will set in, especially with the further enhancement of the modern technology-driven social media and the so-called Artificial Intelligence (AI) developed in it.
God save our democracy.
