SAN JOSE, Antique. — New Lakas-CMD member Ray Roquero posted an early lead over the other candidates for governor in the May 12, 2025 mid-term polls while incumbent Rep. Antonio Agapito Legarda Jr. of the lone district of Antique is well on his way to a second term as the province’s representative.
This was the result of the non-commissioned survey of the Pulso ng Pilipino tracking poll conducted on March 16 to 18, 2024 by The Issues and Advocacy Center (The Center) which covered some 1,134 respondents throughout the province. The survey was limited only to the province’s registered voters whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 and above covering all socioeconomic classes.
The survey used the Multi-Stage Area Probability sampling (MSAP), the standard norm being used by all the established research organizations in most countries.
To add to the authenticity of the survey, the results were checked back at random by the Team Leader and cross-checked with the so-called Listening Posts (LPs), a safety net designed by The Center to ensure the authenticity of the results.
The survey in the Province of Antique asked the 1,134 respondents this question: If the May 12, 2025 elections will be held today, who among the candidates on the list will you vote for?
The respondents were given a showcard containing the names of Vice Governor Edgard Denosta, shipping magnate Capt. Vic Fedelicio, and former Congressman Paolo Javier.
The results showed Roquero garnering 663 votes or 58.5% of the 1,134 39 respondents.
Denosta came in second with 306 or 27%, Javier was third with 138 votes or 12.2% and Fedelicio fourth with 27 2.4%.
In the vice gubernatorial race, Sangguniang Panlalawigan and vlogger Carmela Dimamay led with 480 votes or 42.3%.
Another Sangguniang Panlalawigan member, Dr. Mayelle Plameras, stood in second with 375 or 33.1%, Antique Liga ng mga Barangay President Nonoy Tajanlangit in third with 177 or 15.6% and outgoing Provincial Board member Pio Sumande with 84 or 7.4%.
In the congressional race for the lone district of Antique, the survey showed a close fight between incumbent Rep. Antonio Agapito Legarda Jr. and outgoing Gov. Dodod Cadiao although Legarda enjoys a 12-point lead, 627 or 55.3% to the 495 respondents who voted for Cadiao for 43.7%.
The survey also tallied the preferences for the mid-term senatorial elections next year and the showcard was shown to the respondents containing 50 possible candidates, seven of whom are re-electionists.
The respondents were asked to list up to 12 names in the list of senatorial candidates.
Leading the tight senatorial race is ACT-CIS Party List Rep. Erwin Tulfo followed by Sen. Bato dela Rosa with 53%, Sen. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go with 45%, former Sen. Manny Pacquiao with 43%, losing presidential candidate Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso fifth with 42% and losing vice presidential candidate Francisco ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan sixth with 41%.
Others who made it to the Magic 12 were Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. (7th – 39%), losing presidential candidate Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo sharing eighth to 10th positions with identical 37% with former Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and Sen. Maria Imelda ‘Imee’ Marcos.
Former President Rodrigo Roa ‘Rody’ Duterte was in 11th place with 36% and Doc Willie Ong and Sen. Pilar Juliana ‘Pia’ Cayetano rounded up the top 12 with 35% apiece.
Ed Malay, director of The Center, said what many perceive would be a runaway victory for Denosta is now turning into a nightmare as Roquero has started to build up a wide base of support from among the province’s registered voters and even from the supporters of other gubernatorial candidates.
The Center also said that youth voters and what it calls the organizational block votes will spell the difference in the coming election in Antique.
Malay is the former PR and media relations adviser to former President Fidel V. Ramos and is currently the director of the Issues and Advocacy Center (The Center), which is accredited with the World Association of Public Opinion Research (WAPOR).
