Noynoy, Villar, Erap top latest SWS poll

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III has emerged as the top choice of Filipinos for the country’s next president, results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed.

Based on the SWS Third Quarter 2009 survey, six of every 10 adult Filipinos or 60 percent want Aquino to succeed President Arroyo in 2010.

The non-commissioned survey was conducted from Sept. 18 to 21, with face-to-face interviews with 1,800 adults.

The survey question was: “Under the present Constitution, the term of President Arroyo is up to 2010 only, and there will be an election for a new President in May 2010. Who do you think are good leaders who should succeed President Arroyo as President?”

SWS said it provided no list of presidential wannabes but respondents were allowed to give up to three names.

Sen. Manuel Villar got the second highest vote at 37 percent, followed by former President Joseph Estrada with 18 percent.

Fifteen percent of the respondents mentioned Sen. Francis Escudero’s name while 12 percent voiced preference for Sen. Mar Roxas.

Roxas is Aquino’s running mate.

Vice President Noli de Castro was the choice for president of eight percent of the respondents. Following him was Sen. Loren Legarda with five percent, Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro with four percent, and Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay with two percent each.

Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando and Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva got one percent each.

Mrs. Arroyo’s name was mentioned by 0.5 percent of the respondents.

Aquino said the survey results showed the people’s clamor for good governance.

SWS said six percent of those polled gave no answer and four percent had no one to recommend.

SWS said the wording of the question has remained the same as the past 10 surveys since September 2007.

The latest SWS survey has an error margin of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.

SWS said similar surveys conducted in September and December 2007, March and June 2008, and February 2009 had sample sizes of 1,200 adults and error margins of plus or minus three percentage points.

The September 2008, December 2008, and June 2009 surveys had sample sizes of 1,500 adults.

At Malacañang, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde congratulated Aquino but expressed confidence that Teodoro’s standing would improve in the next few months.

“Now regarding Nonoy, we are very happy for him and of course that should make the administration candidate work harder when the political season or when the time comes,” Remonde said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar said a post-calamity survey may have better results for Teodoro.

“It depends on whether or not our people will be perceptive enough to see that a man who has not been covered by media is someone who is doing his work. Of course I am referring to the administration candidate,” he added.

Congressmen for Gibo

A mock poll conducted by reporters among members of the administration-dominated House of Representatives recently showed Teodoro besting other presidential hopefuls. His running mate Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno also emerged as the lawmakers’ choice for vice president.

Teodoro, a former Tarlac congressman, obtained 90 votes from 153 legislators who cast votes, while Puno garnered 55 votes.

Villar placed a far second with 25 votes while Escudero followed closely with 20 votes. Aquino got only seven votes.

Fifth in the ranking was Sen. Richard Gordon with four votes, sixth was Estrada with two votes, while De Castro, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and Fernando obtained one vote each.

Earlier, Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco told newsmen an informal survey he conducted among 200 of his colleagues showed Aquino getting most of the votes.

The following day, stalwarts of the dominant party rebuffed Cuenco’s claim, with Speaker Prospero Nograles claiming the consensus was for Teodoro.

Legarda was the lawmakers’ No. 2 choice for vice president with 21 votes, followed by Roxas with 18 votes, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves with 13 votes, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, 11 votes and Sen. Jamby Madrigal with one vote.

For Ramon Casiple, chairman of the Consortium on Electoral Reforms, Teodoro’s good showing in the mock polls indicates he has a fighting chance against Aquino.

“This may be a classic battle between Teodoro and Aquino but there is a big possibility that it will be a three-cornered fight,” he said.

The counting of the ballots, cast in secrecy, was done in the presence of Northern Samar Rep. Emil Ong, who acted as head tabulator, while Cuenco, another administration stalwart, acted as his deputy. –-Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) with Delon Porcalla, Marvin Sy and Christina Mendez