Geslani, Domantay in a Close Mayoralty Race – Poll

 

BUT SURVEY DIDN’T SAY WHO LEADS THE GUV’SHIP

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MALASIQUI - A mayorship contender in this biggest town in Pangasinan was elated recently when he was in a nip and tuck race in a commissioned poll with his rival the incumbent and reelective mayor.

A survey enlisted last November 2021 by a billionaire-businessman and financial backer of the opposition party in Pangasinan showed former Mayor Armando C. Domantay, Sr., breathing behind the neck of reelectionist Mayor Noel Anthony M. Geslani who garnered a lead of 27% against the challenger’s 26%.

“Maganda ang takbo dahil hindi pa ako lumalabas saka kahit ako nakabaston pa ako. Ngayon iba na nakakalakad na namamasyal,” he said.

NIP AND TUCK RACE. Mayoralty contenders in the biggest town in Pangasinan: Reelectionist Mayor Noel Anthony M. Geslani (left, photo) and challenger Vice Mayor Armando C. Domantay, Sr. Both locked horns in a tight mayorship poll as commissioned recently by the financier of the Opposition.

A freak accident incapacitated Domantay to walk for several months last year.

Despite his handicapped he nevertheless presided the sessions of Sangguniang Bayan (legislature) by sitting on his bed or chair in his house. But during the filing of the certificate of candidacy (CoC) in October 1 to 8 last year he mustered enough strength to walk by even throwing out his cane to impress this writer.

In the pledged of allegiance by the opposition mayors and those running for the same posts in the province for the presidential and vice presidential bid of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., and Sara Duterte held in Bayambang, Pangasinan in December 5, 2021, he was seen trudging alone to and from his seat to the toilet

Domantay said that Jevie "Jebong" De Guzman poorly held the No. 3 of the polls while Crispin Capua got 8% in that polls.

“Pero 8% lang si Capua. Si Jeebong parang pangatlo ata iyon”.

He revealed that Bayambang Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao commissioned the survey to see how the opposition candidates managed against the contenders of Pangasinan Governor Amado “Pogi” Espino, III six months before the May 9, 2022 election.

In a photo of how those mayoralty bets here fare as sent by a supporter of Quiambao and Fifth District Congressman Ramon “Monmon” Guico, III – aspirant for the governorship - to a reporter, it showed that Geslani, Domantay, Jeebong, Capua, and others got 28%, 27%, 19%, 16%, 14%, respectively

The source on conditioned of anonymity did not tell this newspaper how Guico progress against Governor Espino.

Domantay is a seasoned politician who served this 73 villages’ town  as mayor for nine years. When the law barred him to seek another term in the 2016 election he tandem with Geslani as the latter vice mayoralty candidate. Both won. In the 2019 election the duo ran again and won their reelection. But Domantay did not budge to the persuasion of Geslani - whom he had a fall-out - to join forces again with him in the 2022 electoral derby. He instead run against him to reclaim the top political post here.

“Sa katunayan ako nag endorse sa kanya noong naging mayor siya. Hindi ko masikmura ang kanyang ginagawa sa kanyang panunungkulang sa munisipyo,” Domantay criticism of his rival’s alleged corruption.

Domantay is running with vice mayoralty bet Alfie Soriano while Geslani tandem with vice mayoralty candidate Fernando Lopez.

This burgeoning town has 143, 094 populations according to the Philippines Statistics Authority's 2020 census

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