Villar elated over latest survey results despite lower rating

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur - Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Manuel Villar Jr. on Friday expressed elation regarding latest survey results that placed him a few points behind Liberal Party presidential bet Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III. "Medyo happy ako dyan kasi sabi ko nga noon, basta single digit lang (ang lamang) masaya na tayo," Villar said in a press conference after a caucus with local officials who are members of the NP led by Governor Douglas Cagas. (I’m a bit pleased with that development because as I’ve said previously, as long as the gap remains within single digits, my camp is already happy.) "Matagal pa yang labanan, nakikita ko na ang boto sa president at vice president ay dikitan, pag ganyan ang sitwasyon ay lamang na lamang ang ating partido," he added. (After all, the elections are still a long way to go. It will be a close race for the presidential and vice-presidential positions and given than situation, [the Nacionalista Party] has an edge.] Villar's running mate Senator Loren Legarda was likewise optimistic saying their ratings now are much better than four months ago. "Tignan natin kung saan sila nanggaling, noong September-October 60 percent sila, ngayon 30 plus na lang. So we can see Noynoy and Mar (LP vice residential bet Senator Manuel Roxas II) are on a freefall, kami ni Manny habang lalong umiikot, wag na kaming magsabi, let the videos (of the sorties) speak, let the photographs speak for [themselves]. Yan ang tutuong survey," she said. (Let’s see where they’re coming from. During the September to October period, [Noynoy Aquino and running mate Mar Roxas] were at 60 percent. Now, they’re at 30 percent.) The senator was quick to clarify that she is not discrediting surveys but the warm reception of the crowds during their sorties are tangible proof of their support from the people. "I respect surveys, those are guides pero nakikita nyo sa sorties kung paano kami dumugin," Legarda said. (But as you can see, crowds have swarmed our sorties.) Villar failed to directly answer questions regarding NP efforts to fine tune its campaign, saying the campaign would continue to adjust whenever a problem crops up. Legarda, for her part, said "there is no tension in the group, there is so much cooperation and collaboration and unity in our group." She added that since it is important for the NP candidates to be seen by the people, the party would be conducting more sorties in the coming days. "Ang importante ay presensiya, nakikita kami ng tao kaya in the next 70 days sipagan lang, tyagaan lang pupuntahan namin ang iba't ibang lugar," Legarda said. (The important thing is presence. People can see us during our sorties so in the next 70 days, we will just exert more effort and patience to visit more locations.) In the same press conference, Villar maintained that he is not and will not violate rules on advertisement spending. "Wala akong problema dyan, hindi ako lalabas sa batas...inaaral ng mga lawyers namin yung mga rules dyan at mahirap naman na lumabag dyan," he said. (I have no problem with that. I will not go beyond the law. My lawyers have studied rules and we know that it is difficult to go against that.) He added that the basis used in the study is not what the NP paid for. "Yung presyo discounted na kaya masasabi ko na hindi talaga ganun kalaki ang ginastos ko at kaya malaki ang gastos ay dahil mahal ang singil ng mga stations," Villar said. (The prices we paid for were already discounted and the reason why the prices were so high because the stations charged higher rates.) - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV