Erap overtakes Villar in Puno's secret survey

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines - A nationwide survey commissioned by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno showed that former President Joseph Estrada has overtaken Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party for the second spot in the presidential race.

Liberal Party (LP) insiders said they received information that LP standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III remained on top with 41 percent while Estrada got 25 percent and Villar garnered 23 percent. Administration candidate and former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. got nine percent. 

The survey was conducted from April 18 to 22 among 6,600 respondents with a two percent margin of error.

The other results of the confidential survey were not yet known at press time.

Other surveys also showed Estrada was already in number two position, as was his running mate, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

Joke time

Aquino said in jest here that he would like Binay, the vice presidential candidate of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino with Estrada as standard-bearer, to be his coin bearer if ever he would get married.

He said his ring bearer, on the other hand, would be Rey Marfil, a columnist and reporter of Abante Tonite.

But Aquino added that he has no plan yet to get married, especially since he decided to run for president. His girlfriend is Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, who is running for re-election.

Aquino bantered with Manila-based reporters last Friday night in Tuguegarao.

He dismissed any intrigue or ill feelings between him and his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, because Sen. Francis Escudero endorsed him and Binay, who had been a close family friend of the Aquinos.

Aquino said he was grateful that he and Roxas remained on top of the surveys.

He said in the vice presidential race, Roxas was way ahead, and Binay and Sen. Loren Legarda were only slugging it out for the second spot.

Aquino said he would not consider Estrada and Binay, whose ratings in surveys were increasing, as bitter rivals.

In Batanes, he stressed the issue in the coming elections involved the kind of governance that President Arroyo displayed and “whoever would continue” her style should be considered the main opponent.

Aquino said he and Roxas had been working hard on their campaign.

He was the first presidential candidate to fly to Batanes to lead a political rally there.

Aquino and Roxas flew there yesterday morning from here and then came back here by noontime to proceed to Aparri.

A survey among Makati Business Club members as well as other polls showed Aquino and Roxas remained the leading candidates. - Aurea Calica, Charlie Lagasca