GMA elated by SWS survey

Exuding newfound confidence following her improved poll ratings, President Arroyo credited her lead over actor-turned-politician Fernando Poe Jr. to what she has been saying all along since the start of the campaign: Filipino voters want someone with experience to run the country.

"I’m very grateful. This proves I was right in giving more time to governance than my campaign," she told reporters after a campaign sortie in San Fernando, La Union yesterday.

Doubts over Poe’s ability to run the country enabled Mrs. Arroyo to overtake him in the latest opinion poll of the respected Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The previous SWS poll taken at the beginning of February had shown Poe with a commanding lead of 37 percent over Mrs. Arroyo’s 28.7 percent.

In the latest poll conducted two weeks later, Poe fell to second spot with 30.5 percent, trailing Mrs. Arroyo’s 31.8 percent.

The SWS survey means both of the country’s main polling firms now see the May 10 presidential race as a virtual tie between Mrs. Arroyo and Poe.

A survey taken by Pulse Asia in mid-February showed that 31.9 percent would vote for Mrs. Arroyo while 31.7 percent would elect Poe.

Poe’s camp questioned the accuracy of the Pulse Asia poll result, claiming it was cooked up by Malacañang.

Mahar Mangahas, president of the SWS, said the 1.3-percentage point difference between Mrs. Arroyo and Poe was "statistically insignificant."

"As of now, it’s even," he said. "Definitely we can see that the disqualification issue makes the difference."

Mangahas was referring to three petitions before the Supreme Court seeking Poe’s disqualification from the presidential race on citizenship grounds. Yesterday, the high tribunal junked the petitions and declared Poe is eligible to run for president.

The SWS survey, conducted Feb. 17 to 25, showed little change in the fortunes of four other candidates.

Former education secretary Raul Roco remained in third place with 17.9 percent, followed by opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson with 11.4 percent, Christian evangelist Eddie Villanueva with 1.8 percent and businessman Eddie Gil with no support at all. The remaining 6.6 percent of respondents were undecided.

In the vice presidential race, Sen. Noli de Castro stretched his big lead over fellow former broadcaster Sen. Loren Legarda with a rating of 57 percent to Legarda’s 29 percent.

De Castro is Mrs. Arroyo’s running mate while Legarda is running with Poe.

The SWS survey of 1,200 respondents nationwide had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

Poe is widely popular but there are growing concerns about his qualifications for the presidential job as he is a high-school dropout with no experience in public service.

Poe campaign spokesman Sorsogon Rep. Francis Escudero dismissed the latest poll results, saying the overwhelming response Poe was getting at campaign rallies showed the depth of his support.

Arroyo administration officials are confident that the President’s lead will widen as the campaign continues.

"Give it two more weeks and President Arroyo would have a substantial edge, perhaps about five to ten percent more," Arroyo campaign spokesman Michael Defensor said.

"We are satisfied with the overall trend of the polls but we know it is time to work harder. The President is not taking the voters for granted," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye told a radio interview.

Mrs. Arroyo is "determined to deliver her message to the people in a manner that will enlighten them and convince them of the hope that lies ahead."

"She is waging the campaign on a high plane, without mudslinging or denigrating any of her opponents, and with a strong pitch for clean and honest polls," Bunye said. "The President will continue to deliver what is in the best interest of the average Filipino."

Bunye expects Mrs. Arroyo to pull away in surveys once the campaign period for local officials opens on March 25.

"Right now our local officials could not campaign because it’s not yet the campaign period. But we were already seeing the commitments of local government officials, and many of them, including those with other parties, are helping the President," he said.

Commenting on the SWS survey, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay said the poll showed that Mrs. Arroyo "has nothing to prove as her performance and platform of government are unfolding daily. It is the others, most especially Poe, who have the obligation to show people what they are made of." — With AFP