Aquino still leads Villar in latest SWS survey

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has seen his margin dwindle to single digit in the race against Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed yesterday.

Even as Aquino consistently topped the other presidential contenders in a given scenario, his lead against Villar narrowed to just eight percentage points.

With less than four months to go before the May 10 elections, the SWS said 52 percent would prefer Aquino while 44 percent liked Villar. Four percent of respondents said they are undecided.

This was based on a one-on-one scenario in the Dec. 27-28 survey commissioned by San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, a supporter of Villar.

An earlier SWS survey commissioned by Villar’s media relations officer Avic Amarillo on Oct. 1-4 had Aquino ahead by a massive 37 percentage points at 65 percent to Villar’s 28 percent.

In the latest SWS survey, Aquino was also pitted against six other presidential candidates on a given scenario.

The SWS provided a list to 2,100 adults during a face-to-face interview by removing one presidential candidate. The survey had an error margin of three percentage points.

The respondents were asked: “Among the names found in this list, (who) will you probably vote for as President of the Philippines, if elections were held today?”

Provided with a list of candidates that excluded former President Joseph Estrada, 49 percent of the respondents chose Aquino while 38 percent preferred Villar, six percent went to Gilbert Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, two percent to Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas, one percent each to Senators Richard Gordon and Jamby Madrigal, and 0.3 percent to Olongapo City Councilor Carlos “JC” de los Reyes. Three percent remained undecided.

In excluding Teodoro, 45 percent voted for Aquino, 35 percent for Villar, 14 percent went to Estrada, two percent each to Gordon and Villanueva, one percent to Madrigal and 0.4 percent to De los Reyes. One percent of respondents stayed undecided.

In a three-way battle between Aquino, Teodoro and Villar, 50 percent went to Aquino, 40 percent to Villar and only seven percent preferred Teodoro. Three percent remained undecided.

In a scenario between Aquino, Estrada and Villar, the survey showed 47 percent preferred Aquino, 37 percent on Villar, 14 percent to Estrada and two percent undecided.

The LP, in a statement yesterday, said they are unfazed by the latest SWS survey showing Aquino’s dwindling lead.

The LP said Aquino “is still the candidate to beat in 2010” in any scenario thrown by surveys commissioned by his rivals.

LP president Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, the party’s vice presidential candidate, said Aquino would still win over Villar by a formidable four to five million votes in all scenarios explored.

“The forces of reform as represented by Noynoy consistently prevail in whatever scenario they try to cook up,” Roxas said.

Villar, for his part, said the latest SWS survey revealing that he is catching up with Aquino serves as an inspiration for him to work harder in his campaign.

“This (SWS survey) is pushing me to work doubly hard in the campaign because serving the people sincerely is on the top of my mind,” he said.

Villar cited the results of the SWS December survey as one of the reasons why his detractors are capitalizing on the Senate committee report on the C-5 Road Extension issue.

Villar accused his presidential rivals of using the C-5 Road issue to divert the attention of the public from his strong showing in the surveys.

“It’s a pity that our time and efforts are divided because of the political mudslinging. So I do not want to dwell on that so much because there are many issues and problems, which we need to act on,” he said.

Villar, a 60-year-old property developer who is listed by Forbes magazine as the Philippines’ ninth richest man with a net worth of $530 million, has described Aquino as an inexperienced neophyte.

Villar also rejected allegations that he used his position to enrich himself. – With Aurea Calica, Christina Mendez –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)