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Thousands jam to different tunes at LP, Villar concerts
Feb 26th
MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of people turned out at separate concerts staged by the Liberal Party (LP) and the campaign of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Manuel Villar on Thursday.
Villar’s concert for his supporters finally pushed through, after it was reportedly delayed due to tropical storm Ondoy back in September. However, before the concert, for the first time since the NP ticket was completed in November, the party’s candidates got to be with detained former Marines Col. Ariel Querubin.
NP standard bearer Manny Villar said he is grateful they were allowed to visit Querubin, saying they will continue to work for his release.
Querubin is under court martial proceedings, following the 2006 Marines standoff in Fort Bonifacio, Makati.
"Ang aming hangarin ay makalabas siya. Gagawin namin ang lahat para mabigyan siya ng pagkakataon na makakampanya at masabi mga plataporma at adhikain niya sa bayan," Villar said.
The military, however, criticized Villar’s group for allegedly campaigning inside Camp Aguinaldo. The Armed Forces prohibits political activity in all its camps.
The military said the NP violated this policy when the candidates staged a unity walk, and rode vehicles that had campaign posters.
The military warned the NP not to repeat the incident.
From Camp Aguinaldo, the NP ticket proceeded to the party’s concert at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.
The concert, titled "Wowowillie meets Rockatropa," was originally scheduled on September 26, but was reportedly moved to February, after tropical storm Ondoy hit the country that day.
Villar denied speculation ‘Rockatropa’ pushed through on Thursday to match the EDSA I commemoration program of LP.
"Matagal na ‘yong Rockatropa. Matagal na ‘yon. Wala kaming tinatapatan. Baka kami ang tinapatan," he said.
More than 20,000 people showed up at the NP concert, where Villar handed out scholarships and prizes, to attract the youth vote.
Villar most trusted presidential bet
Feb 25th
MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Manny Villar Jr. is the most trusted presidential candidate in the May 10 elections, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.
Villar received a 70-percent majority trust rating in Pulse Asia’s January 2010 Pre-Election Survey conducted from Jan. 22 to 26, while Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was a close second with 64 percent.
Former President Joseph Estrada posted practically the same trust and distrust ratings (33 percent versus 37 percent) while public assessment of the trustworthiness of former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. – the administration bet – is divided, with 36 percent of Filipinos ambivalent on the matter, 32 percent trusting him, and 31 percent distrusting him.
Sen. Richard Gordon had a 26-percent trust rating against 32 percent who distrusted him.
Other presidential aspirants posted “near to small majority” distrust ratings – Sen. Jamby Madrigal (47 percent), Olongapo City Councilor JC de los Reyes (50 percent), Kilusang Bagong Lipunan bet Vetallano Acosta (51 percent), evangelist Eddie Villanueva (53 percent), and environmentalist Nicanor Perlas (54 percent).
Sen. Manuel Roxas II took the top spot as far as those running for vice-president is concerned, with a 73-percent trust rating.
Sen. Loren Legarda lags behind at 61 percent, the Pulse Asia survey showed.
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay received a “big plurality” with 44 percent.
On the other hand, “big pluralities to small majorities” distrust the other vice-presidential candidates in the May 2010 elections – former Optical Media Board (OMB) chairman Edu Manzano (45 percent), former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando (46 percent), Ang Kapatiran bet Dominador Chipeco Jr. (52 percent), broadcaster Jay Sonza (57 percent), and former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairperson Perfecto Yasay Jr. (58 percent).
Pulse Asia said not one of the 13 presidential and vice-presidential candidates trust-rated in Pulse Asia’s December 2009 and January 2010 pre-election surveys experienced an improvement in his/her overall trust rating.
Instead, public trust in three candidates became less pronounced during this period – Legarda (-6 percentage points), Manzano (-7 percentage points), and Aquino (-8 percentage points).
Four candidates recorded higher distrust ratings in January 2010 compared to the previous month. They were Legarda, (17 percent versus 11 percent), Binay (26 percent versus 21 percent), Manzano, (45 percent versus 36 percent), and Villanueva (53 percent versus 47 percent).
Villar, Noynoy enjoy Pinoys’ trust: survey
Feb 24th
MANILA, Philippines – Among the present crop of presidential candidates, only Senators Manny Villar Jr. and Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III enjoy majority trust ratings from Filipino voters, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed Wednesday.
The January 22-26 survey showed that 70% of Filipinos had much trust for Villar, compared to 64% for Aquino. Eighteen percent of voters said they were undecided about Villar while 23% said the same for Aquino. Both candidates had the same percentage of voters (12%) saying that they had little trust for the two candidates.
Aquino and Villar were statistically tied in the last presidential survey conducted by Pulse Asia last January 22 -26. Thirty-seven percent of Filipino voters said they would vote for Aquino in the presidential election while 35% said they chose Villar. (Read: Aquino, Villar tied in Pulse Asia survey)
All the other presidential candidates registered lower trust ratings among voters, including former President Joseph Estrada (33%), former Defense Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro (32%), Sen. Richard Gordon (26%), JIL founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva (15%), Sen. Jamby Madrigal (14%), financial consultant Vetallano Acosta (5%), Olongapo councilor JC de los Reyes (4%) and environmentalist Nicanor Perlas (4%).
The survey showed that public assessment of the trustworthiness of administration candidate Teodoro is divided with 36% of Filipinos ambivalent on the matter and 31% distrusting him.
Unlike Villar and Aquino, the other candidates had higher distrust ratings than their trust ratings: Estrada (37%), Gordon (34%), Villanueva (53%), Madrigal (47%), Acosta (51%), de los Reyes (50%) and Perlas (54%).
Among the vice-presidential candidates, only Senators Manuel Roxas II and Loren Legarda are trusted by most Filipinos (73% and 61%). On the other hand, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay is enjoying big trust from 44% of Filipino voters.
Other vice-presidential candidates registered higher distrust ratings than trust ratings including former Optical Media Board chairman Edu Manzano (20% – trust, 45% – do not trust), former MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando (18% – trust, 46% – do not trust), TV personality Jay Sonza (10% – trust, 57% – do not trust), former SEC Chairman Perfecto Yasay (8% – trust, 58% – do not trust), Jun Chipeco Jr. (5% – trust, 52% – do not trust).
The Pulse Asia survey used a probability sample of 1,800 adults. Pulse Asia’s nationwide survey has a ± 2% error margin at the 95% confidence level. Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following error margins at 95% confidence level: ± 6% for Metro Manila, ±4% for the rest of Luzon and ±5% for each of Visayas and Mindanao.
Noynoy regains lead over Villar in new survey
Feb 20th
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.
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.