Aquino freefalling from 60% to 36%

Posted on | March 7, 2010 | No Comments

Villar still on track, chips away 11-point lead of closest rival to only 7 points

Despite relentless vilification campaign and pouring in of millions in television ads by his closest rival, Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar continuous to hold a formidable rating compared to the freefalling numbers of Sen. Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party (LP).

Based on the recent survey of Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) held January 28-February 3,  Aquino led Villar by 11 percentage points, scoring 41.54 percent against Villar’s 30.63 percent.

In the newest Pulse Asia survey from February 21-25, the lead of Aquino contracted by 7 percentage points with 36 percent against Villar’s 29 percent.

Villar lost six percentage points while Aquino shed one percentage from their previous ratings of 35 percent and 37 percent, respectively, based on the Pulse Asia January 10 survey.

The latest Pulse Asia survey placed former president Joseph Estrada in third with 18 percent, Gilbert Teodoro in fourth with 7 percent and Bro. Eddie Villanueva came fifth with 2 percent.

But despite losing grounds in the latest Pulse survey, Villar’s ranking remained on upswing since this was still seven-percentage point higher than his previous Pulse December rating of 23 percent.

NP senatorial candidate and spokesman Gilbert Remulla said the latest Pulse Asia results showed that Villar maintained a considerable strong showing despite being the target of attacks by his rivals from various political camps.

Remulla said while the NP standard-bearer lost some grounds, the real story is that his closest rival, Aquino, will never be able to recover his previous high rating of 50 percent to 60 percent.

“We welcome the latest Pulse Asia results and we vow to work harder next time. It’s still two months away before elections. Our seven-point deficit is recoverable compared to the 24 percentage points lost by the closest rival,” Remulla said.

Villar, in a presidential interview with Mike Enriquez of GMA 7 and DZBB, said his rivals have continued to besmirch his reputation by painting him as a man pre-disposed to buying off opponents and even the media.

He stressed he never toiled for his wealth just to splurge it on something unprincipled and immoral.

The NP presidential candidate said the latest attack on his integrity that he allegedly tried to buy out a presidential rival from the race in exchange for funding reimbursement was part of the vilification pattern.

Remulla said the voters are more discerning now to believe the lies being spewed by the rivals of Villar, including fantastic insinuation that he is the secret candidate of the corrupt administration. END

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