QUEZON City mayoral aspirant Mike Defensor and his vice mayoral running mate Winnie Castelo are maintaining their big lead over their rivals nine weeks before the May 9 elections.

The February Pulso ng Bayan poll conducted by The Issues and Advocacy Center showed that 51 percent preferred Defensor to be their next city mayor.

Incumbent Mayor Joy Belmote’s score went down by five points, from 39 percent in January to 34 percent this month.

Defensor has sustained his above-50-percent or majority voter preference since The Issues and Advocacy Center started its tracking poll in December.

As for Castelo, he widened his margin over incumbent Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.

Defensor’s running mate increased his voter preference score by one point to 49 percent, while incumbent Sotto’s survey mark decreased by one point to 21 percent, giving Castelo a 28-percentage-point lead.

Defensor and Castelo again thanked Quezon City voters for their continued support not only for them but for their candidates for legislative and other local positions as well.

They reiterating their promise of a proactive, transparent, responsive, and caring city government.

The pollster attributed the overwhelming preference for the two Malayang Quezon City candidates to the support committed to them by half of the city’s barangay chairmen.

The Defensor-Castelo team’s candidates in four congressional districts have also maintained their big edge over their rivals, while the contest in the two other districts is almost even.

Reelectionist first district Rep. Onyx Crilosogo was picked by 50 percent of respondents, against Arjo Atayde’s 21 percent.

Another reelectionist lawmaker, Precious Hipolito Castelo of the second district, was chosen by 51 percent, while Ralph Wendel Tulfo Jr. was preferred by 29 percent.

Third district Rep. Allan Reyes scored 50 percent, against Franz Pumaren’s 30 percent.

Another Malayang Quezon City congressional candidate, Bingbong Crisologo of the sixth district, was picked by 52 percent. His closest rival, Marivic Co-Pilar, had 33 percent.

Malayang Quezon City’s Marvin Rillo trailed reelectionist Rep. Jesus Suntay in the fourth district, 49 percent against 46 percent.

The survey was taken on February 9 to 15.