Erap incredulous over latest SWS survey

Former President Joseph Estrada on Monday expressed incredulity on the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showing him still in third place in the presidential race in the May 10 elections. "I don’t believe that," Estrada said after a press conference in Mandaluyong City when asked for his reaction on the latest SWS poll showing Liberal Party bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III enjoying a double-digit lead over closest rival Nacionalista Party’s Sen. Manny Villar Jr. The survey, which was conducted from April 16 to 19, showed Estrada stuck in third place with a 17-percent preference rating — a two-percentage point drop from his 19-percent rating a month ago. Estrada accused the SWS of committing errors in the 2004 national elections when the poll firm said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won in all Metro Manila cities. "Noong 2004 elections, sinabi nila sa exit polls, panalo raw si Arroyo sa Metro Manila. Ano nangyari? Talo. Out of 17 cities and municipalities, isa lang ipinanalo ni Arroyo. Hindi error ‘yun," he said. (In the 2004 elections, SWS said in its exit polls that Arroyo won in Metro Manila. But what happened? Of the 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila, Arroyo won in only one. I don’t think that’s an error.) The former president added he trusts more the nationwide survey reportedly commissioned by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, which shows that he has overtaken Villar in second place. "Six thousand ang respondents noon. ‘Yung respondents ng SWS 1,200 to 1,400 lang. Mas credible (That’s more credible because it has 6,000 respondents compared to SWS’ 1,200 to 1,400)," he said. Estrada also said the electorate should not believe surveys and choose the presidential candidate who they think will serve the country best. Senator Richard Gordon, another presidential aspirant, earlier sued SWS and another polling firm, Pulse Asia, for their alleged bias in conducting pre-election surveys. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMANews.TV