Villar confident of winning unless automated polls goes wrong

MANILA, Philippines - Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr. expressed confidence that his party will win in Monday’s election unless something goes wrong with the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) automated election system.

At the same time, Villar said he is now leaving his destiny to God as he capped a 90-day nationwide campaign in a miting de avance in Tondo, Manila last night.

 “Whether or not I can fulfill my dream of ending poverty, it’s up to our Lord now. I’ve already given my best shot in my firm belief that it’s what our Lord wants, this is what our people want,” he told reporters. 

Villar, who has been criticizing his rival, Liberal Party standard-bearer Senator Benigno Aquino III on his statements about the possibility of people power if he loses, practically echoed the same statement without the threat of a revolt.

Speaking at the Laurel House along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City where the NP held its political rally the other night, Villar said that he is confident the organization of the party would carry him and his entire slate to victory in spite of what has been coming out in the surveys on the candidates for the May 10 elections.

In the latest Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys, Villar has fallen way behind Aquino in the presidential race and has even been tied or overtaken by former President Joseph Estrada over the last two weeks.

“While I am not happy with the result of that survey, I wish to say that these surveys have their limitations,” Villar said.

“These may be useful for crafting strategies but for anyone to say that these would be the basis for determining who will win, based on that sample size, that is just not right,” he added.

Villar emphasized that the NP has probably the biggest network and organization nationwide with its alliance with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Probably only the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD has more candidates running in every position at the local level, so Villar said that he expects all of their own candidates to deliver them the votes in Monday’s polls.

“Our position is to totally ignore the surveys and go ahead and I am convinced that come May 10, this party will be victorious unless something goes wrong with the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines,” Villar said.

Several weeks back, Aquino was the subject of heavy criticism for saying that the only way he would lose is if massive cheating occurs.

Aquino also warned of the possibility of a mass revolt if the true will of the people is not reflected in the elections.

Villar also said that he does not totally trust the PCOS machines, particularly with all the problems that have been coming out over the past few weeks.