Villar says PSE exposé timed for surveys

MANILA, Philippines - Beleaguered Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday questioned the results of the latest survey showing him in a tie for second place with former President Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

Villar said the results of the latest Pulse Asia survey came after Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile had accused him of exerting pressure on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to favor his real estate firms to allow the sale of locked up stocks.

He said the survey was “ill-motivated” since it was done at the time the accusations came out on April 23.

Villar said surveys are supposed to guide the candidates during the campaign.

But he questioned the timing of the latest Pulse Asia survey that showed him and Estrada tied in second place while his main rival Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III widened his lead.

In the same survey, Estrada’s running mate, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay overtook Villar’s running mate, Sen. Loren Legarda at second place in the vice presidential race.

“For me… there are survey results that are acceptable but there are some that are questionable,” he said.

Legarda, for her part, raised the issue of the survey firm’s top executive being Rafael Cojuangco Lopa, a first cousin of Aquino.

“They have mastered the art of black propaganda, lies and slander. What kind of leaders do they want to be?” Legarda asked.

Legarda accused Pulse Asia of “trending and mindconditioning.”

“We do not need those kind of surveys since we have strong support on the ground,” she said.

Legarda said even former President Fidel Ramos and President Arroyo were not leading in the surveys yet they emerged winner in the 1992 and 2004 elections, respectively.

Legarda said she was at the 17th spot in the surveys during the 2007 elections but she emerged the topnotcher.

With a survey firm allegedly favoring another candidate, Legarda said she is not ruling out that the surveys are creating a mindset for the people that the leading candidate is already the winner.

Legarda claimed Pulse Asia chief field researcher Ana Maria Luna Tabunda has admitted that “there is a pool of people who are respondents” in their surveys.

Villar has denied the allegations and maintained there was nothing illegal in the sale of stocks.

Despite the drop in his poll survey ratings, Villar expressed belief that the groundswell of support in various regions nationwide will help him and his party mates in claiming victory on May 10.