Can “star power” trump political experience in this year’s elections in Laguna province?
This is one question now posed by political analysts as the results of OpinYon Laguna’s ongoing vice-gubernatorial surveys show a “close” battle between the wife of a politician and a former actress and a longtime board member province for the second-highest post in the province.
Online survey
The vice-gubernatorial online survey which was launched on May 30 via Facebook, is part of OpinYon Laguna's ongoing series to gauge public opinion on the leaders that they want and seek to lead them for the next three years.
As with the gubernatorial surveys, four "potential" candidates who have openly declared their intentions to run for vice governor were included: incumbent 2nd District Board Member Peewee Perez; incumbent 1st District Board Member JM Carait; Gem Castillo-Amante, a former actress and wife of incumbent San Pablo City Mayor Vicente Amante; and Lorenzo Zuñiga, Jr., President of the Liga ng mga Barangay in Laguna, who declared his intentions at the “last minute.”
Perez is closely allied with former broadcaster and former Laguna 3rd District Representative Sol Aragones, while Carait is rumored to be teaming up with incumbent 2nd District Representative Ruth Mariano Hernandez. Castillo, on the other hand, is rumored to be allied with fellow actor and incumbent Santa Rosa City Representative Dan Fernandez.
As of June 13, the survey has garnered over 3,500 reactions, with 359 comments and 185 shares.
Carait currently leads with over 1,900 reactions in his name, followed by Castillo who now has 1,300 reactions.
Suspicious, again?
However, as with what have been observed in the previous gubernatorial online survey, OpinYon Laguna’s online team have detected suspicious activity in the conduct of netizens who reacted to the poll.
Upon close checking by OpinYon Laguna’s staff, it was discovered, for instance, that some “netizens” who reacted to a certain candidate did not even come from the Philippines at all.
“Mga Vietnamese ba ang boboto kay [candidate]?” was how they put it in a message to the newsmagazine’s editorial team.
Neck-and-neck race
However, according to our staff, when discounting the suspicious reactions, they could see a “close” race between Carait and Castillo.
A political analyst who requested anonymity pointed out that Carait is much more known in Laguna’s 1st and 2nd district than Castillo, given the former’s track record as a longtime member of the Laguna Provincial Board.
“Totoo na baka may ‘star power’ pang ibubuga si Castillo, pero gaya ng ibang mga kandidato, she had a lot of catching up to do, lalo na sa 1st and 2nd district,” the analyst told OpinYon Laguna.
He also noted that Carait has launched his own “poster campaign” in Laguna a lot earlier than the other candidates.
“Maagang nagsimula sa ‘poster wars’ si Carait dito sa Laguna, and given that matagal nang may track record siya dito, I won’t be surprised kung mas may name recall siya rito kaysa kay Gem Castillo, who is known primarily sa 3rd District,” he added.
Speaking of which, sources are now reporting that Castillo has also launched her own “poster campaign” in San Pedro City.
“Halos mapuno na ng kanyang mga poster ang main road sa ilang mga barangay dito sa San Pedro City,” sources informed.
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