Gibo enters Top 3 in presidential bet surveys

Former Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro is now among the top three candidates for president in the May 10 elections, according to a series of preference surveys.

The preference surveys showed that Teodoro, the standard-bearer of the administration party, Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), managed to improve his ratings despite the negligible number of his political ads being aired on radio and television and printed in newspapers.

Based on the surveys conducted nationwide by broadcast media giant Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) this March, the former Defense chief placed first in one city and No. 2 or No. 3 in parts of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Results from the Sorsogon City poll conducted from March 9 to 11 saw Teodoro take the top spot with 50 percent of the votes.

He was followed by Nacionalista Party bet Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., 25.8 percent; Liberal Party’s Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd, 19.2 percent; and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino’s Joseph “Erap” Estrada, 3.3 percent.

Respondents were asked on who they would choose as the next president of the Philippines if elections were held tomorrow.

Results from the Vigan City survey held from March 6 to 7 put Teodoro in second behind Villar, but ahead of Aquino, John Carlos de los Reyes, Eddie Villanueva and Estrada.

The administration standard-bearer placed third in the RMN surveys (behind Aquino and Villar) in Pagadian City (conducted March 4 to 7), Cauayan, Isabela (March 2 to 6); Baguio City (March 4 to 5); Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (March 5 to 6); Tuguegarao City, Cagayan (March 15 to 16); Ormoc City, Leyte (March 6 to 7); San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (March 5 to 6); Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (March 6 to 7); and Metro Bacolod City, Negros Occidental (March 5 to 6).

Teodoro edged out Estrada for third place in the RMN survey conducted in the rest of Luzon (March 2 to 16) and crowded Villar and Aquino in the survey in the rest of the Visayas (March 2 to 9).

Meanwhile, in an ongoing poll survey being conducted by the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores called the “7-elections,” Teodoro has surpassed Villar and Estrada, placing second to Aquino.

Survey results as of March 24 showed Aquino was leading after getting 102,005 votes. He was followed by Teodoro with 43,159 votes, Villar with 37,861 votes and Gordon with 30,089 votes. Estrada tallied 17,334 votes.

Teodoro’s strong performance in the RMN and other recent independent surveys was seen as an indicator of the ruling party’s machinery.

This machinery, according to Mike Toledo, Teodoro’s spokesman, was beginning to make its presence felt.

The sudden improvement in Teodoro’s rating, Toledo said also on Wednesday, could also be attributed to his style of campaigning, which centers on his platform of government. –JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA Reporter, Manila Times