From Philippine Daily Inquirer Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100412-263752/Villar-gains-slightly-in-poll-Aquino-still-up
MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Manuel Villar, Nacionalista Party standard-bearer, gained a point in a voters’ opinion poll paid for by an ally, but his strongest rival, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party, remained ahead by 8 percentage points.
In the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora and conducted two weeks ago, 37 percent of the respondents said they would vote for Aquino while 29 percent said they would support Villar.
Former President Joseph Estrada got 17 percent, down two points from 19 percent, while administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro gained 2 points, receiving 8 percent.
There was practically no movement in the standings of all the nine presidential candidates as the changes, if any, in their ratings were well within the margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.
The survey, conducted from March 28 to 30, covered 2,100 respondents nationwide. The previous SWS survey was conducted from March 19 to 22.
The respondents were asked in Filipino, “Of the names on the list, who would you likely vote for if the presidential election were held today?”
Villar’s confidence of finally overtaking Aquino has not wavered despite the Liberal Party standard-bearer’s 8-point lead.
“Dikit na yan (That’s almost neck and neck) in an election,” Villar said at a press conference at the General Santos City airport Sunday afternoon.
Aquino welcomed the results of the latest SWS survey.
“It will still get better as we intensify our campaign. He (Villar) did not get it from me because I improved on my lead. Thank you to all who continue to make me No. 1,” Aquino said when asked about the results.
Other presidential candidates in the latest SWS survey got 2 percent or below.
The rating of Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas remained at 2 percent, while Sen. Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan also received 2 percent, down a percentage point.
Those who got less than 1 percent were JC de los Reyes of Ang Kapatiran, 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent; environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, still at 0.1 percent; and Sen. Jamby Madrigal, 0.1 percent from 0.04 percent.
Those who said they were undecided, don’t know or had no preference comprised 4 percent of the respondents.
End-game strategy
The Nacionalista Party released the survey results Sunday and harped on the one-point increase obtained by Villar from the previous SWS survey.
It described the 1-point increase as a “modest but significant comeback” by Villar.
Generally satisfied with the latest results, Villar said other factors like the support of local candidates and organizations for a presidential candidate, and the people’s last-minute decisions would affect the final outcome in the elections.
“But the end-game strategy would be different and we won’t reveal that,” he said in Filipino.
Asked what could have been behind his fluctuating numbers, Villar said it was the media coverage of the campaign, especially when it was the negative news or black propaganda that was highlighted.
“But we’re not complaining,” he said.
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Estrada’s political party, said the former President’s numbers were still on track because he did not air any TV commercial from March 6 to 28.
“During the time, we concentrated on promoting our senatorial slate. With our renewed media campaign, President Estrada’s victory is at hand,” said party spokesperson Ralph Calinisan.
More than 8 percent
While the camp of Teodoro looks at surveys, it doesn’t believe in them anymore.
“What we rely on is what we are seeing on the ground, which does not reflect on these surveys,” said Teodoro’s spokesperson Mike Toledo.
He said Teodoro’s rating had to be more than 8 percent.
Internal surveys that supporters of the administration standard-bearer had conducted before the local campaign period started last month showed that Teodoro was at 15 percent, Toledo noted.
“If you bring in the local machinery of the party, it will go up by at least 10 percent more,” he said. With reports from Gil Cabacungan, Christian Esguerra and Jocelyn R. Uy
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