Gibo to Noynoy: Don’t be too smug about high survey ratings

Administration party standard-bearer Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. on Thursday advised his second cousin, Liberal Party presidential bet Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino not to be too confident about his lead in survey ratings. In an interview during a sortie in Negros Occidental, Teodoro disputed Aquino’s claim that the May presidential polls will be a “two-man race." (See: Presidential polls a two-man race, Noynoy says) Aquino continues to lead in various presidential preference polls, closely followed by Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. (See: Villar slips, Noynoy stays on top in new Pulse Asia survey) Teodoro, who consistently places fourth in presidential preference surveys, however said that surveys will not determine a candidate’s victory in the May polls. “Sad to say, it’s not surveys that will make you win but the support of the people and the leaders," he said. The administration presidential bet added that he is still confident that he will win the upcoming elections despite his lackluster performance in surveys. “I will win this election because of our local support and the support of the people," he said. Teodoro on Tuesday got a reassurance of support from his Lakas-Kampi-CMD party-mates, after defections to the Villar camp hounded the ruling party. (See: Lakas-Kampi clears unity issues, vows intensified campaign for Gibo) Two weeks ago, several key members of the ruling party such as former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit" Singson, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri and Cebu Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz threw their support for Villar instead of Teodoro. (See: Villar-Arroyo alliance seen in Chavit’s defection from Lakas) Cebu City mayoralty candidate Alvin Garcia, who belongs to the powerful Garcia clan of Cebu, also forged an alliance with Villar last week along with members of the local opposition party, Kusug. Three other influential members of the Garcia clan hastened to clarify, however, that they “firmly stand behind" the administration presidential bet. (See: Cebu’s ruling party endorses Gibo, nixes Edu for Loren) —Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV