Isko Moreno Back In Manila; Malapitan Trounces Trillanes; Belmonte, Tiangcos Unopposed; No Sweat For Calixtos In Pasay
- edmalay
- May 1
- 8 min read
PULSO NG PILIPINO --- It’s all over but the counting in at least eight cities in the National Capital Region with the acknowledged political kingpins in these cities maintaining their control for the next three years at least.
The biggest casualty in this year’s mid-term polls is former Senator Antonio Trillanes who probably thought that his audacity and brashness are enough to challenge the Malapitans in Caloocan City. Incumbent Mayor Along Malapitan is expected to romp away with at least 76% of the votes, with only 18% going to Trillanes, one per cent to other candidates while five per cent are still undecided.
This is one of the highlights of the Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll conducted by The Issues and Advocacy Center (The CENTER) in all the 16 cities and one municipality of the National Capital Region.
The non-commissioned Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll was conducted on April 11-15, 19-22, 2025 with varied number of respondents that correspond to the voting population of each of the 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila.
The survey used a combined standard MSAP and random digital access methodologies with researchers interviewing registered voters with ages ranging from 18 years old to 65 years old and above.
With about 12 days to go before E-Day, the survey showed that the elections in the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Munitinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Quezon City, San Juan and Valenzuela are all but finished with the incumbents keeping their control of the City Hall in their cities except for the City of Manila where the incumbent is expected to lose big time to comebacking former Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso.
Another big-time loser is Sam ‘SV’ Versoza who built his fortunes from the networking business and who also probably thought that the voters of Manila can easily be attracted by the color of money. Not even the presence of Versoza’s partner Rhian Ramos could swing Manila voters to his favor.
The Pulso ng Pilipino survey for the said period showed that if the elections are to be held on the dates of the survey, some 59% of the voters in Manila will most likely vote for Moreno, 17% for incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna, 13% for SV Versoza, 2% for Raymond Bagatsing, 1% for the other candidates and, 8% are still undecided.
In Caloocan City, Rep. Oca Malapitan, the acknowledged kingpin of the City that was once a political hotbed, is also on his way to reelection in the first district with 81% of the votes, 15% going to former Mayor Rey Malonzo and a small 4% remain undecided.
The CENTER sees the entry of Trillanes in Caloocan as the biggest political debacle in local politics which shows the need for candidates to establish their roots and their relationships with the people as name recall and popularity are not enough to win an election at the local level. It would’ve been better had Trillanes tried his luck in running for the senate rather than challenge a political kingpin like Malapitan in Caloocan.
At the city where the largest fish port in Luzon is located – Navotas City – all the incumbent candidates – Mayor John Rey Tiangco and Vice Mayor Kap Tito Sanchez are running unopposed except for Rep. Toby Tiangco but who nevertheless is expected to win hands down against a certain Coach Tony Ibanez.
It’s literally no contest in this fish port where the Tiangco Brothers (John Rey and Toby) have managed to maintain their political leadership through the delivery of basic services and infrastructure projects that have benefited the residents of this fish port. This is the reason why the Tiangco Brothers were practically unopposed in the past elections.
Incumbent Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City is good as elected as she is also running unopposed. The same is also true for Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon as no one dared challenge the performance-oriented hizzoner of the city that is regarded as a gateway to Southern Tagalog. With Mayor Biazon, the reelection bid of Rep. Jimmy Fresnidi is also devoid of any challenge.
While Mayor Francis Zamora is being challenged by former basketball star and coach Philip Cezar, the Pulso ng Pilipino survey show that Zamora is assured of at least 73% of the votes with only 16% going to Cezar and 11% are undecided. Congresswoman Atty. Bel Zamora is certain to get reelected as she leads Jana Ejercito, 71% and 21%, respectively.
Similarly, the political force of the Gatchalians in Valenzuela City continues to reign supreme in this year’s elections with Mayor Wes Gatchalian leading the way with 88% as against the 2% of his closest rival. Dr. Kat Martinez, spouse of term-limited Rep. Eric Martinez, is also expected to take over the latter’s congressional seat.
And in what is regarded as the Tourism Capital of Metro Manila, the Pulso ng Pilipino survey for the period in review shows the Calixtos barely working up a sweat in facing the challenge put up by those who dared to storm the impregnable Calixto fortress in Pasay City.
Survey results show the incumbent solon Rep. Tony Calixto with an insurmountable 82% of those surveyed against the 13% of former Councilor Onie Bayona. In the mayoralty race, incumbent Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano is set to serve her third and last term as mayor term with 79% of those surveyed saying they will still vote for the incumbent with only 15% saying they prefer her closest rival former Councilor Wowee Manguerra.
Ed Malay, director of The CENTER and former PR and Media Adviser of the late former President Fidel V. Ramos said that in his long years of experience in Philippine politics he still could not understand the mindsets of politicians who step into the political arena knowing the odds are stacked against them.
The case in the cities of Caloocan, Pasay and Manila are perfect examples of the stubbornness and folly of candidates, said Malay, adding that there is just no way you can beat the lights out of the Malapitans, Calixtos and Yorme. They have built a considerable base of support on the ground in their respective cities that it will take more than a miracle to dislodge them.
In the other political battleground cities and one municipality, the election in Las Pinas is too close to call except for Sen. Cynthia Villar who has practically wrapped up the congressional seat in the city. Las Pinas Vice Mayor April Aguilar with 38% trails cousin Carlo Aguilar who leads the mayoralty race with 43% but this lead cannot be considered safe with 10% of voters still undecided.
At the same time, incumbent Mayor Mel Aguilar who is running for Vice Mayor is leading with 41% against Councilor Louie Bustamante who posted 33%. Many residents and voters of this lantern capital of Metro Manila have expressed dissatisfaction at Bustamante’s decision to jump ship, which residents see as a sign of ingratitude and disrespect for the late Mayor Nene Aguilar who practically guided Bustamante’s political career.
In Metro Manila’s premier business district, Sen. Nancy Binay who is running for Mayor of Makati City is preferred by 43% of the voters with 34% going to her brother-in-law Congressman Luis Jose Campos and artist Victor Neri posting 10%. It’s almost even and a very tight race in the vice mayoralty race with actor and martial arts expert Monsour del Rosario with 43% is leading by just 1% over former Congressman Kid Pena who registered 42%
Over in Malabon City, Mayor Jeannie Sandoval is set to be reelected with 49% as against erstwhile rival Jaye Lacson with 40%. Former three-term Mayor Antolin ‘Lenlen’ Aquino Oreta III is vying to represent Malabon City in the House of Representatives with 43% a 7% lead over Ricky Sandoval who is preferred by 36% of the voters.
In Mandaluyong City, Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos is set to claim the mayoralty post once again as she is the preferred mayoralty candidate with 79% as against Ed Geronimo who registered only 9%. Incumbent Rep. Neptali ‘Boyet’ Gonzales II who is term limited, is set to pass the baton to spouse Queenie Gonzales with 79% who is literally running unopposed with only a token challenge coming from Ardi Abalos who could only manage to secure 9% of those surveyed.
Moving down south in Paranaque City, Rep. Edwin Olivarez is in a face-off with sister-in-law Aileen ACO Olivarez, spouse of incumbent Mayor Eric Olivarez who is running unopposed in the city’s first district. Some 47% of those surveyed said they prefer Edwin Olivarez to be their mayor as against the 29% who are in favor of Aileen ACO Olivarez with 12% going to Jun Zaide.
What may prove to be exciting is the congressional race in Paranaque’s second district with incumbent Rep. Gus Tambunting being challenged by Bicol Saro Party List Representative Brian Yamsuan whose campaign is awash with cash and has parlayed his war chest to attract some of the veteran politicians to rally to his side.
But the Pulso ng Pilipino survey for the period indicated showed Tambunting with a comfortable lead with 47% voters’ preference to Yamsuan’s 39%. Other candidates for the same post garnered only 2% and 12% are undecided which is crucial in a close contest such as this.
This campaign is nothing new and there’s nothing different from other political campaigns. The choice of Team Pagasa as campaign slogan by Yamsuan’s group composed appears to be a misnomer as it gathers the politically insignificant Benjo Bernabe and a slew of political personalities who have made running for seats in the city’s legislative council as their life-long career which is not exactly a team that exudes hope.
The CENTER said that this is the dark side of Paranaque politics as with other cities and municipalities similarly situated where you have elected officials whom you cannot uproot from their seats. Remember too that Bicol Saro is a Party List group in the Bicol region that was inundated by floods last year which raised questions as to where the appropriations for flood control projects went.
Mr. Clean Mayor Vico Sotto in Pasig City is being challenged by Sara Discaya - a construction magnate who is also oozing with cash and who vowed to build schools and hospitals in the city. While there is no doubting the outcome of the mayoralty elections in this city, this is the only serious challenge that the young Sotto has ever faced in the two terms he has served as city mayor.
The Pulso ng Pilipino survey shows Sotto winning with 53% of the votes as against the 37% posted by Discaya. Some 2% went to other candidates and 8% are still undecided.
A few kilometers away, the electoral contest in Pateros, the only remaining Municipality in Metro Manila, the mayoralty post held by term-limited Mayor Ike Ponce will be up for grabs between a former Vice Mayor of the town and a ranking member of the Town Council. Contesting the top post are former Vice Mayor Gerald German who posted 36% against the leading mayoralty candidate RSM Miranda who is the choice of 45% of those surveyed.
Mayor Lani Cayetano, spouse of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, is leading Arnel Cerafica by a wide margin 66% to 23%, respectively, for the top post in Taguig City. Ms. Cayetano is banking on the successful delivery of various basic services city’s particularly with regards to education and health services.
Over at the country’s shoe capital in Marikina, it will be two members of the House of Representatives who will be battling for the top post at City Hall. First District Rep. Maan Teodoro is trailing erstwhile Second District Representative Stella Quimbo by a very slim margin, 42% to 45%, respectively, for the right to replace term-limited Mayor Marcy Teodoro who is running to represent the First District against Sen. Koko Pimentel.
Teodoro with 51%, currently leads Pimentel, who is the choice of 39% of those surveyed. Many are surprised why Pimentel is running in Marikina and not in Cagayan de Oro or Misamis Oriental. The CENTER said that notwithstanding the fact that Pimentel is from Cagayan de Oro, it would be next to impossible for him to claim victory even in his own hometown. # # #
Ed Malay
Director
The CENTER
For Authentication: Call 09209602293
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