Erap unfazed by surveys

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines –Deposed President Joseph Estrada is not worried about survey results on the presidential race, where he is consistently ranked third after Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Nacionalista Party bet Sen. Manuel Villar.

Campaigning here last week, Estrada said he still enjoyed the support of the masses, which catapulted him to the presidency in 1998 before he was ousted in 2001.

“I am not worried about survey results,” Estrada said, citing that even in the 1998 presidential derby, he did not lead in surveys but he won the race.

“It’s hard when you are in the number one spot at first then you slowly go down the ranking. It’s better to be on the third slot then work your way up,” he said.

He made the statement following their successful rally early this week in this city where he was met by the overflowing crowd starting from the airport up to the commercial district where the float carrying him could not inch forward as thousands of supporters flooded the streets to greet him.

“I still have the magic judging from the overflowing crowd, our float could hardly move. I am very overwhelmed,” Estrada said.

He admits feeling tired after traveling from the north of Zamboanga to this city but due to the warm reception that he received, he is confident of winning the presidential race come May.

“I am at home here because during the 1998 elections, I won here by a landslide,” Estrada added.