Villar most trusted poll bet, survey reveals

Manila Bulletin - Wednesday, February 24

Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Senator Manuel Villar Jr. is the most trusted candidate in the May 10, 2010 elections, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.

While Villar and rival Liberal Party standard-bearer Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III both enjoy majority trust ratings among the candidates vying for the presidency, the NP bet had a better trust rating of 70 percent, against the LP candidate's 64 percent.

This developed as nearly seven out of 10 Filipinos expressed distrust in President Arroyo, attaining the highest distrust rating of 68 percent since March, 2001.

The nationwide survey conducted from January 22 to 26 with 1,800 respondents showed that public distrust in President Arroyo remains the predominant sentiment toward her, four months before her term of office ends.

Based on the same survey, Villar's trust rating improved from the last survey released in December by the same agency, where it showed him and Aquino almost in a virtual tie with a margin of error of negative (-), positive (+) 2 points.

Aquino's trust rating in this survey dropped by 8 points, while the rate of undecided respondents went up to six percentage points to 23 percent.

The newest survey conducted last January 22-26 had at least 1,800 respondents and highlighted key political developments in the Philippines, including the impending retirement of Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Victor Ibrado and the issue of whether President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should appoint their replacements or leave the task to the next president.

Notably, the survey was also done at a toxic time for Villar when the Senate Committee of the Whole deliberated on the committee report seeking his censure over the C-5 road extension project and the alleged attempt by his allies in the Senate to unseat Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who chairs the said committee

The survey also came at a time when questions regarding the certainty of the automation of the May, 2010 elections amid delays in the delivery of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and the training of teachers for the automated election system (AES).

Coming in third in the ranking of the most trusted presidential candidates was former President Joseph Estrada with 33 percent, followed by administration bet former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, 32 percent.

In a statement, Villar welcomed the results of the survey which he likened to a "report card for public servants" like him.

"I am grateful to the Filipino people for continuing to put their trust in me and our candidacy.

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Is affiliation with Pres. GMA a bad move for Gibo?

Teodoro impresses MBC, tops mock poll
Manila Bulletin - Thursday, February 18

Officials of the Makati Business Club (MBC) claimed Thursday that Lakas Kampi CMD standard bearer Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr., who they have admired for his impressive credentials and untainted record in public service, could have been in the forefront of the presidential race for the May 10 elections if not for his association with President Arroyo.

"He's (Gibo) a very impressive person, he has impressive credentials but it's a pity that he is associated with somebody who, to our minds, is not particularly an impressive leader (Mrs. Arroyo)," Ramon del Rosario, MBC chairman, said in an interview.

Del Rosario, who served as finance secretary during the term of then President Fidel V. Ramos, made the comment about Teodoro after he appeared during the presidential candidates' forum hosted by the influential business organization at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City.

This developed as another campus in Mindanao has gone green for Teodoro after he topped another mock election at the Mindanao campus of the University of the Philippines.

Thirty-three percent of those who voted in the UP Mindanao mock election picked Teodoro, 45, and the 1989 Bar topnotcher, as the most competent and most qualified among the presidential candidates in the May 10 elections.

Senator Benigno Aquino III came in second with 24.4 percent, 20 percent for Sen. Richard Gordon, third with 20 percent, and Sen. Manny Villar, fourth with 13.3 percent. (Aris Ilagan)Officials of the Makati Business Club (MBC) claimed Thursday that Lakas Kampi CMD standard bearer Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr., who they have admired for his impressive credentials and untainted record in public service, could have been in the forefront of the presidential race for the May 10 elections if not for his association with President Arroyo. (Aris Ilagan)
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ABS-CBN - Saturday, February 20

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III has regained the lead over Sen. Manuel Villar in the latest presidential survey conducted January 28-February 3 by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS).

According to the TNS survey obtained by ABS-CBN News' Ces Oreña Drilon, Aquino was chosen by 41.54% of 3,000 respondents while Villar was picked by 30.63%.

TNS is a global market research firm with an office in the Philippines.

Aquino and Villar were statistically tied in a Pulse Asia survey conducted from January 22 -26, or around a week before the TNS survey, with the Liberal Party bet garnering 37% and the Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer getting 35%. (Read: Aquino, Villar tied in Pulse Asia survey)

Third in the Jan. 28-Feb. 3 TNS survey was former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) with 11.66%, statistically the same as in the last Pulse Asia survey where he got 12%.

Administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD was fourth with 5.21%, the same as in the last Pulse Asia survey.

Bro. Eddie Villaneuva got 2%, Senator Richard Gordon got 1.7%, Senator Jamby Madrigal got 0.22%, also statistically the same as what they received in the January 22 to 26 Pulse Asia survey.

Villar ethics case as factor

The TNS survey was done around a week after a heated controversy over Villar's ethics case erupted in the Senate, which could be one reason for the changes in the ratings of the two leading presidential candidates.

The Senate committee of the whole's report accusing Villar of unethical conduct in connection with the C-5 road extension project was taken up during the plenary on January 25. The committee had ordered him to return over P6 billion in government funds that were allegedly wasted for the project. (Read: Senators clash in plenary over Villar ethics case)

On January 26, Senate President Enrile also accused Villar of trying to bribe him to change his stand on the issue. (Read: Enrile claims Villar tried to buy him off)

The Senate, however, failed to act on the report after Villar's supporters failed to show up on the last session day of the 14th Congress.

NP downplays survey results

The TNS survey was apparently commissioned by the Aquino camp.

Asked for his comment, NP spokesman and senatorial bet Gilbert Remulla said the report does not disclose how the questions were phrased and whether they were slanted for or against any candidate

"Alam namin na ito ay galing sa Liberal Party. Ayaw nilang banggitin 'yung pangalan eh. Dahil doon, hindi rin namin alam kung ano 'yung mga tanong, kung ano ang slant n'yan, kaya sa ganon ay hihintayin na lang namin ang magiging resulta ng survey ng SWS at Pulse Asia," Remulla said.

("We know this was commissioned by the Liberal Party. They don't want to disclose the name. We also do not know the questions, whether these were slanted...So, we'll just wait for the results of SWS [Social Weather Stations] and Pulse Asia.")

According to the TNS website, it first set up an office in the Philippines in 1983. It offers "full service operations covering all aspects of marketing research and consulting" and claims to be "No. 1 in the Philippines for customised market research."

"Almost 30 years of research experience has made us experts in understanding the Philippines trade and consumer environment. These insights are critical to helping our clients make their important business decisions," TNS Philippines says.

"TNS Philippines offers in-house field and data processing services backed by stringent quality control procedures to make sure the analysis and recommendations we deliver are accurate and timely," the firm says on its website. – report from Ces Drilon, ABS-CBN News

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What can you say about this guys? Is he really the one who will make the Filipinos rise from the dead? Maybe, maybe not...



Get Real
Manny Villar blameless?

By Solita Collas-Monsod
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:06:00 01/30/2010


WHILE the Senate is declaring a moratorium on the discussion of the ethics case against Sen. Manny Villar, here are some incontrovertible facts, presented in Q & A form. The source of the information is also given.

Question: What roadway projects are the subject matter of the Villar ethics controversy? Answer: 1. The Manila Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP), the original C-5 south extension project, linking SLEX with the Coastal Road; 2. the DPWH C-5 Extension project (CX-5), which together with 3. the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Project (LPPLP), also links SLEX with the Coastal Road. Source: Senate Report (SR) 780.

Q: Is the CX-5/LPPLP project a realignment, as Sen. Jamby Madrigal describes it, or has there been no realignment, as Senator Villar’s allies insist? A: Technically there has been no realignment, because these are two separate roads linking C-5 from SLEX to the Coastal Road. But they are very close together and, in some areas, overlap, as can be ascertained from a site map. Source: interactive map available at www.gmanews.tv

Q: Are there any differences between the MCTEP and the CX-5/LPPLP? A: Yes. 1. The MCTEP is a joint-venture project between the government and a private Malaysian partner, with the government’s financial exposure limited to P2.68 billion for the purchase of the road right-of-way; the private partner is responsible for the construction of the project, for which tolls will be charged. The CX-5/LPPLP is a toll-free, wholly-financed government project costing P6.96 billion; 2. The CX-5/LPPLP is longer than the MCTEP, its extra length essentially covering the LPPLP portion; 3. The CX-5/LPPLP passes through more Villar properties than the MCTEP. Source: DPWH project documents cited as Exhibits A, B and TTTT in SR 780; site map from www.gmanews.tv.

Q: How large are the Villar company landholdings in the immediate vicinity of the questioned road projects? A: At least 50-52 hectares: 40 hectares in the vicinity of the LPPLP; 10-12 hectares in the area between Sucat Road and Multinational Avenue. Source: testimony of Anastacio Adriano Jr., senior vice president and general manager, chief operating officer of Adelfa Properties Inc. and other Villar-owned companies up to 2008; self-styled consultant and political officer of Senator Villar since August 2008. Nota bene: Senate employment records do not include his name. Nota bene: it is not clear whether the 50-52 hectares mentioned above include properties cited in SR 780—roughly 10 hectares in area—to be developed by Villar companies in joint venture with their owners.

Q: What is the involvement of Villar in CX-5 and LPPLP? A: 1. The Project Feasibility Study of the DPWH for CX-5 states: “The conceptualization of and the initial release of funds for the CX-5 Project was initiated by Sen. Manuel Villar whose same efforts also paved the way for the funding of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Road [LPPLP]”; 2. Various insertions and amendments (Priority Development Assistance Fund, read pork barrel) in the national government budget over the years 2002-2008 for CX-5 and LPPLP; 3. Adriano (cited above), in the office of and presence of Villar, dictating to the director general of the Senate’s Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) Villar’s proposed amendments to the 2008 budget, including a P400-million appropriation for the CX-5. Source: documents submitted by DPWH, lawyer Yolanda Doblon of the LBRMO, testimony of both Doblon and Adriano, cited in SR 780.

Q: Were the Villar properties bought for road right-of-way overpriced? A: SR 780 argues for the affirmative; PSR 1472 (the resolution signed by Villar and his allies exonerating him from all charges) argues for the negative. This calls for a conclusion of the reader. And to help that along, I have—based on the documented prices and acreage of the lands purchased in connection with the LPPLP—computed the weighted average prices that were paid for the Villar and related properties, and those paid for the non-Villar properties. The results: The Villar/related properties, comprising 23,455 square meters, were bought for P168.1 million. The non-Villar properties, comprising 11,685 square meters, were bought for P22 million. That comes to a weighted average of P7,168 per square meter for Villar’s properties, and P1,880 per square meter for the non-Villar properties. That has to be a statistically significant difference.

Given the above facts—which no one can contest, since they are based on official documents, and not on a he-says-she-says set of assertions—it has to be reasonable to conclude:

1. Since there was already an ongoing project (the MCTEP) linking C-5 to the Coastal Road, it was totally unnecessary to build a second one.

2. Which means that there was a waste of scarce resources. Instead of using only P2.6 billion of government funds for the first project, the government had to spend an additional P6.9 billion for the second, which practically duplicated the first, except for the additional length which happily for Senator Villar, traversed his properties.

3. This unnecessary, wasteful project was certainly Villar’s idea. It is specious to argue that it is a DPWH project. As the DPWH feasibility study states (in black and white), both the CX-5 and the LPPLP were conceived and initially funded by Villar.

4. Villar benefited tremendously from the second project. Certainly, his companies were paid significantly more per square meter for the road right of way (which were mostly bought from him). But that pales into insignificance compared with the tremendous increase in the values of his real estate holdings in the area—at least 50-52 hectares.

Is he blameless? Is the Pope protestant?

Source

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 52% of Filipinos would have picked Sen. Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III while 44% would have chosen Sen. Manny Villar had a two-man presidential race been held last December 27 to 28, according to a special Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the Villar camp.

The survey, disclosed by the SWS on Thursday, asked 2,100 respondents the question: Among the names found in this list, who will you probably vote for as President of the Philippines if elections were held today?

The survey has a plus/minus 2.2% margin of error.

The SWS said it disclosed the results of the survey on Thursday after the sponsor authorized its release.

The same question was asked in an October 1-4 SWS survey. The results showed that 65% would have chosen Aquino, while 28% would have picked Villar.

The Villar camp said the survey results showed that Villar had significantly cut Aquino's lead from 37 percentage points in October to 8 percentage points in December.

Other scenarios

Aside from a list that contained only the names of Aquino and Villar, the respondents were also asked to choose from lists that had more names of presidential candidates, namely: former President Joseph Estrada, Lakas-Kampi-CMD's Gilbert Teodoro, Brother Eddie Villanueva, Sen. Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, and Ang Kapatiran's JC de los Reyes.

The SWS said four other scenarios were also tested in the December 27-28 survey. From a list showing 7 names without Estrada, Aquino got 49%; Villar 38%; Teodoro 6%; Villanueva 2%; Gordon 1%; Madrigal 1%; de Los Reyes 0.3%.

From a list showing 7 names without Teodoro, Aquino remained on top of the survey with 45% followed by Villar with 35%, Estrada 14%, Gordon and Villanueva 2% each, Madrigal 1%, de los Reyes 0.4%.

In a 3-way race, 50% chose Aquino followed by Villar with 40% and Teodoro 7%. A separate 3-way survey, meanwhile, still showed Aquino leading with 47%,Villar 37%, and Estrada 14%.

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Elections beat to sound of familiar tunes
Pocholo Concepcion Cora Lucas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

December 13, 2009

MANILA, Philippines--It’s beginning to sound a lot like the election campaign period: From Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s melodramatic “Hindi Ka Nag-iisa,” sung by Regine Velasquez to Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s upbeat “Eddie Ako,” performed by rapper Gloc-9 to MMDA chief Bayani Fernando’s catchy “Macho Guwapito.”

Aquino and Villanueva are running for president; Fernando has slid down to vice president but this has nothing to
do with his choice of political jingle.

Sen. Manny Villar picked the music of Parokya ni Edgar and 6cyclemind for his TV commercials.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno—before he officially backed out of his candidacy for vice president—had his own TV ad which used the song “May Bukas Pa” from the popular teleserye that starred the child character Santino.

The TV commercial of former Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.—who was supposedly running for president until he also bowed out—featured the song “Nobody” by the South Korean group Wonder Girls.

A senatorial bet, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., currently has his own TV ad that features the song “Tuloy Pa Rin Ako” originally by the group Labuyo.

Some of these candidates paid hefty sums to use the music of contemporary bands and artists. All of the advertisements are competing to establish image and identity through songs that would move hearts of the TV audience and hopefully, capture the votes to win the 2010 elections.

Just business

For some of the songs’ composers, it’s just business.

Chito Miranda, vocalist of the pop-rock group Parokya ni Edgar, told the Inquirer that the band has collectively decided not to endorse any candidate. “I don’t care about the politician. I did it for the money,” he quipped—referring to the use of his song “Akala” for the first of Villar’s series of TV commercials.

The song’s original subject—a lighthearted look at taking chances and mistaken notions and which Miranda said he wrote on a whim—was replaced with lyrics that debunk critical perception of Villar’s reputation and character.

Richard Tan, Parokya’s manager, said permission to use the song was coursed through the band’s record label, Universal Records. “The fee paid to us was not that high; it was based on standard rates for publishing rights (which is P15,000), multiplied by 10, as negotiated by the record label,” he said.

But Miranda, the song’s composer, said he was paid a hefty sum, the amount of which he requested not to be published, so he won’t be forced to have a standard price for his other tunes.

Tan pointed out that the agreement stipulated that the band would not sing the song in the commercial. The advertising agency DM9 wrote the revised lyrics that starts with “Akala mo trapo ’yun pala mali ...” (“It’s wrong for you to think he’s a traditional politician ...”

Tan added that the band agreed to perform in Villar’s campaign sorties, but not to directly endorse him and “Akala” would be performed in its original version.

For the OFWs

Another pop-rock band, 6cyclemind, has two songs, “Sandalan” and “Walang Iwanan,” also in Villar’s TV commercials.

The songs were written and recorded several years ago, but were apparently chosen for the touching lyrics (“Iiyak mo na ang lahat sa akin;” “Walang iwanan kahit sa’n ka mapadpad”) that matched Villar’s special concerns: OFWs.

The band’s members and manager believe it was Villar’s eldest son, Paolo, who pushed for the songs to be used in the ads.

The deal—including the making of the commercials themselves—was likewise handled by DM9, which paid song publishing fees to Music R Us (MRU), the firm that oversees the publishing rights to compositions by artists signed to Sony Music Philippines. 6cyclemind is a Sony Music artist.

“There are no fixed rates,” said MRU president Merwin Tee. The song publishing rights for such ads “is a little less than P2 million” per song.

Tee said the money was usually divided between the composer and the interpreter. But since 6cyclemind is both the composer and interpreter, the band collected everything.

Asked if 6cyclemind also agreed to endorse Villar when campaign season starts, 6cyclemind manager Darwin Hernandez said: “We actually started performing last Nov. 23 … And we believe in what [Villar] is doing. There’s nothing wrong with being identified with him.”

Before he decided not to run for president, Sen. Chiz Escudero had a TV commercial that featured the song “Bagong Umaga.” It was performed by singer-composer Bayang Barrios, who co-wrote it with husband Mike Villegas. The song was first performed in 1996 for Fernando Poe Jr.’s TV ad for the 2004 presidential elections.

Barrios said it was Escudero’s wife Christine who first inquired about “Bagong Umaga.” Barrios added that she and Christine are friends, so it was not difficult to negotiate.

Asked how much she was paid for the two ads, Barrios hinted that the fee was quite substantial when Escudero used it.

Grand production

Senator Aquino’s TV commercial disguised as a music video has a running time of more than 3 minutes. The grand production features a new song, “Hindi Ka Nag-iisa,” with a powerhouse cast of more than a dozen show biz celebrities.

Pop singer Regine Velasquez sings the theme that was composed by singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid.

Alcasid admitted that he didn’t charge anything for the song. “I wrote it as a gift to the Aquino family.”

The making of the music video itself was all done free of charge, according to TV host/talent manager Boy Abunda, its producer.

He said he and Kris Aquino—a close friend, TV co-host and the senator’s sister—handled everything, talking to the talents and the entire production and post-production team—who all readily agreed to work without pay.

Noel’s commitment

Singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon, who has lent two original songs for Aquino’s presidential campaign, expressed a commitment “to carry him all the way to the polling place.”

One of the songs, “Ako’y Isang Mabuting Pilipino,” has been adapted as the theme of Mabuting Pilipino, a volunteer group for Aquino whose name was inspired by the song.

“When I give my song to a candidate, I have to believe in him and join his campaigns,” said Cabangon, who said his appearances in Aquino’s campaign are free. “It’s not just selling your song and then leaving it. The song and the composer-singer are one. You cannot separate them. The song is a reflection and soul of the person.”

Hip hop for God

Just last Thursday, Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s TV ad was launched in between the early evening newscasts. Like Senator Aquino’s ad, it is a full music video and uses a song specially written for Villanueva’s campaign.

The song, “Eddie Ako,” was composed by Pol Armasin, a member of Villanueva’s Jesus Is Lord (JIL) religious community, and features Pinoy hip hop’s hottest artist, Gloc-9.

“I’m not a member of JIL, although I’m a [born-again] Christian,” Gloc-9 told the Inquirer. “When I was asked to appear in the video, I felt everything finally fell into place because there were other candidates who wanted me and I kept saying no to them.”

Gloc-9 said he was paid an honorarium to sing in the video, “a small amount compared to the rate I would charge for such a project.”

Does it matter?

Another singer-songwriter, Gary Granada, has reportedly turned down offers by some candidates to use his music for their media campaign.

Asked by the Inquirer to comment on the proliferation of political TV ads, Granada wrote in an e-mail: “The fact that ‘jingles’ play a significant role in elections further emphasizes the role that media and the ‘arts’ assume in shaping society ... Cost-wise and sense-wise, public interest is better served if political ads were banned ... Do [musicians] have to believe in the candidates they sell? The correct answer is yes. But considering the crap and incoherent platforms that we hear from the crop of candidates we regularly have, does it really matter?”

Aquino still tops survey; opponents catching up

LIBERAL PARTY (LP) standard-bearer Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III is still the first choice among presidential aspirant if elections were held today, according to a recent noncommissioned survey conducted by Pulse Asia, Inc., but his opponents are starting to advance in the ratings.

Results of the Pre-Election National Survey held Dec. 8-10 showed that the rating of the only son of democracy icon the late former president Corazon C. Aquino was virtually unchanged at 45% from 44% in October.

Second-place Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. of the Nacionalista Party (NP) had 23% from 19%, followed by deposed president Joseph "Erap" E. Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) at 19% from 11%, the biggest gainer with an eight-point jump.

Administration bet former Defense secretary Gilberto "Gibo" C. Teodoro, Jr. of the Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats had 5%, up three points, while Senator Richard "Dick" J. Gordon (Bagumbayan-New Volunteers for a New Philippines Party) and Eduardo "Eddie" C. Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas Movement) were tied at 1% from 0.3% and 1%, respectively.

A percentage preferred other candidates whose names were not provided in the survey, while 4% either did not give or refused to answer or were undecided.

The survey also found that being pro-poor (27%) and having a clean record (21%) were the top reasons for the respondents’ choices for president. Other qualification are good person (12%); can do something, is doing something or will do something and helps or helping others (11%); governing or has experience (8%); knowledgeable or intelligent (6%); listens to people (3%); and other factors (2%).

"The survey results validate our belief that the Filipino people continue to support our campaign for an honest government," said Edwin Lacierda, spokesman of Mr. Aquino.

Speaking on behalf of Mr. Villar, NP spokesman and former Cavite Rep. Gilbert C. Remulla said they are "confident" that the trend "will continue and the gap [between Messrs. Aquino and Villar] will close in the next few months."

"The situation is very volatile," he added.

Former Senate president Ernesto M. Maceda, spokesman of Mr. Estrada, said: "This confirms what we have been saying before that the reason Erap’s ratings were low is because there was a notion that Erap was not running," referring to legal questions on the ex-leader’s eligibility to run due to a constitutional ban on reelection.

"If and when it [disqualification against Erap] is finally ruled by the Commission on Elections and the Supreme Court, his ratings would peak," said Mr. Maceda.

For Mr. Teodoro, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary B. Olivar said: "This is not yet the basis for the actual elections. We are confident that the more people see them, the more they get popular."

Mr. Gordon said the survey "really favors those who have announced much earlier and those who have been spending a lot of money already and it does not favor those who tried to follow the law."

"However, I am not discouraged, but encouraged. It is a fact that the others have gone down; we intend to go up, and we will go up."

Tight VP race

Meanwhile, LP bet Senator Manuel "Mar" A. Roxas II and Senator Loren B. Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) were virtually tied at the top in the vice-presidential survey, with 39% and 37%, respectively.

Close to four out of 10 Filipinos are supporting Mr. Roxas and Ms. Legarda, running mate of Mr. Villar in the 2010 polls, Pulse Asia said. Mr. Roxas gained two points from the previous survey while Ms. Legarda 14 points.

The polling firm added that Ms. Legarda is the "only vice-presidential candidate who registered a significant change in voter preference since October."

Makati Mayor Jejomar "Jojo" C. Binay, Mr. Estrada’s running mate, placed third with 14% from 13%. He was followed by former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani F. Fernando, running mate of Mr. Gordon; and newcomer actor/game show host Eduardo "Edu" B. Manzano, running mate of Mr. Teodoro, at 2% each.

Other vice-presidential bets (names not provided) obtained 1%, while 4% did not give or refused to answer or were undecided.

Mr. Roxas, former Trade secretary, said he was "thankful" to the people who preferred him and added that the survey will serve as an "inspiration to continue to work hard for our people."

NPC spokesman and Valenzuela Rep. Rexlon T. Gatchalian said they "expected" the survey results, seeing as improvement the "timely platforms of governance" of Ms. Legarda such as climate change and protection of the environment.

In response to Mr. Binay’s ratings, Mr. Maceda said: "We are still hopeful that in due time, he will get the chance of winning."

Senate race

In the same survey, Senator Jose "Jinggoy" E. Estrada led the senatorial aspirants with 55.1%.

Following closely is Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. (52.7%); Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago (51.4%); former Senate president Franklin M. Drilon (48.4%); Senator Pilar Juliana "Pia" S. Cayetano (43.1%); former Socioeconomic Planning secretary Ralph G. Recto (43.1%); Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (42.7%); former senators Sergio "Serge" D. Osmeña III and Vicente "Tito" C. Sotto III (both with 40.2%); Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr., 31%; and Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto "TG" L. Guingona III, 28.6%.

The statistically probable winners are businessman Jose "Joey" P. de Venecia III, 24.3%; Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid, 23.1%; and Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino "Ruffy" B. Biazon, 22.9%.

Eighty names were provided based on the official report of the Commission on Elections of those who filed their certificates of candidacy as of midnight of Dec. 1.

The survey had a sample of 1,800 adults.

The significant events that occurred during the conduct of the survey were the declaration of martial law in portions of Maguindanao, the joint session of Congress to discuss the proclamation, and the filing of petitions at the Supreme Court assailing martial law, among others. -- Bernard U. Allauigan

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