Bayani belittles Pulse Asia survey, vows to run in 2010

MANILA, Philippines – He may not have emerged as a front-runner in a recent survey on most preferred presidential bets, but Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando is bent on throwing his hat in the 2010 ring. “Gusto ko lang bigyang linaw, ako po’y tuloy na tatakbo. Di pa tapos ang boxing, wala pa nga eh [I would like to clarify that I will still run in 2010. The fight is not yet over. It is only about to begin]," Fernando told dzBB radio Sunday. Fernando, who was chosen by only one percent of the respondents in Pulse Asia’s survey conducted from Feb. 2 to Feb. 15, 2009, said being at the bottom of the list cannot prevent him from seeking the presidency. “Meron kaming survey sa amin [We also have our own surveys]," he said without elaborating. Vice President Noli de Castro topped Pulse Asia’s survey with 19 percent preference, followed by Senator Francis Escudero (17 percent), former President Joseph Estrada (16 percent), and Senator Manuel B. Villar Jr. (15 percent). On the other hand, Senator Loren Legarda received 12 percent; Senator Manuel Roxas II (8 percent), Senator Panfilo Lacson (6 percent) and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay (2 percent). Because of Fernando’s dismal performance in the surveys, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Secretary General Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said that the MMDA chief has been dropped from the shortlist of the administration party’s presidential bets. "If he [Fernando] does better in the next survey, he could be included but now hindi muna siya kasama sa pagpipilian [he is not among the choices]," Zubiri said last Thursday. But in Sunday’s radio interview, Fernando lashed back at Zubiri, saying the party is yet to hold its national convention where it would pick its standard bearer for the 2010 elections. “Hindi balido yun. Hindi puwedeng on his own ay magdedesisyon sa isang partido. Eh kailangan sa party may convention…Ang aking masasabi, wala pang desisyon ang partido," he said. [Zubiri’s statement is not valid. He cannot make a decision for the party, which has yet to hold its convention. All I can say is, the party has yet to come out with a standard bearer.] - GMANews.TV