Makati Business Club goes for Noynoy, Gibo

The latest Makati Business Club (MBC) survey has shown that a majority of the group’s members prefer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd to any of his rivals for the presidency, with Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. coming a far second.

In the April 15 to 21 “MBC Presidential/Vice Presidential Preference Survey,” 65 percent of respondents said they preferred Aquino of the Liberal Party.  In the survey last December, Aquino was the overwhelming choice but by only 61 percent of all respondents.

Second most preferred in this latest survey, with 14 percent, was Teodoro of the ruling Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats.

Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. was third, with 9 percent, followed by Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon, 6 percent.

Former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada, Councilor JC de los Reyes of Olongapo City, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas and evangelist Brother Eddie “Ed” Villanueva got 1 percent each.

In the vice presidential race, 79 percent of MBC members chose Sen. Mar Roxas 2nd; 12 percent for Bayani Fernando, a former chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA); 3 percent, Sen. Loren Legarda; 2 percent, Mayor Jejomar Binay of Makati City; and 1 percent, Perfecto Yasay, a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Alberto Lim, MBC executive director, told The Manila Times that these surveys are conducted to get the pulse of the members. He made it clear, however, that the sentiments of MBC members do not necessarily reflect those of the entire business community.

While Aquino rose from 61 percent in the December poll to 65 percent, second-placer Teodoro was stagnant at 14 percent, but Villar did go up from 7 percent to 9 percent.

Lim said they thought Aquino’s survey rating would decline, especially as it had hit a high in December and other polling bodies saw Aquino’s ratings go down to about 40 percent.

“But the number of MBC members who prefer Aquino went up this April instead,” Lim said.

MBC said the percentage of  “undecided” respondents went down to 3 percent in the April survey, from 14 percent in December.

“It’s a good indication that undecided people are making up their mind in time for the elections,” Lim said.

About 15 percent of MBC’s members participated in the April poll.  Only 7 percent of the respondents were foreign businessmen.

MBC said this latest survey has a margin of error of about 4 percent.

Noynoy gets support of massacre kin

Meanwhile, in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd on Friday said relatives of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre have expressed their support for his presidential bid.

Aquino said some of the relatives of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre met with him Thursday at the Aquino residence at Times Street in Quezon City. They expressed their support for him despite the supposed endorsement of the Ampatuan clan.

Some prominent members of the Ampatuan clan are facing murder charges for the massacre of 57 men, women and children, including 30 journalists, in Maguindanao on November 23.

“It was heartwarming to note that none of the relatives believed [the Ampatuan endorsement], and that all of them saw the really amateurish attempt [by the Ampatuans] at trying to derail our campaign.” Aquino said.

On Tuesday, Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of Datu Unsay town, the principal suspect in the Maguindanao massacre, endorsed the candidacy of Aquino during a press conference at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Ampatuan Jr. said his father, former Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. of Maguindanao, believes that their family can only attain real justice under an Aquino presidency.

The LP standard-bearer, however, rejected the endorsement of the Ampatuans, calling it a “joke” and a “childish amateurish attempt” to besmirch his reputation and his campaign for the presidency. –BEN ARNOLD O. DE VERA and CRIS G. ODRONIA Reporters, Manila Times