Press Release
February 1, 2010

Villar gains 8%, Noynoy loses 4% in latest SWS survey
Villar reduces Noynoy's lead to only 7 points

Despite the resuscitation of the C-5 road controversy in the Senate, the ratings of Nacionalista Party Pres. Manny Villar continue to improve as shown by the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

In the survey conducted from January 21-24 for Business World, 2,100 respondents nationwide were asked: "Sa mga sumusunod na pangalan sa listahang ito, sino po ang malamang ninyong iboboto bilang Presidente ng Pilipinas kung ang eleksyon ay gagawin ngayon?"

To which, 42 percent chose Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, while 35 percent chose Villar.

Aquino's ratings declined by 4 points (46%) compared to the Dec. 5-8 survey also commissioned by Business World. Villar's ratings improved by 8 points (27%), showing that the difference between the two presidential contenders was reduced to only 7 points, from last survey's 19 points.

In a separate SWS survey commissioned by Rep. Ronaldo Zamora and conducted Dec. 27-28, Aquino's lead over the Nacionalista bet went down to 11 points. Villar got 33% while Aquino got 44%. The ratings of other presidential candidates are almost unchanged compared to the December survey. Former Pres. Joseph Estrada got 13%; former Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro, 4%; and Sen. Richard Gordon and Bro. Eddie Villanueva, both 2%.

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga kababayan natin na nananatili ang kanilang tiwala at suporta sa akin sa kabila ng mga batikos at mapanirang alegasyon ng ating mga katunggali sa pulitika. Nakakataba po ng puso ang patuloy nilang paniniwala sa aking pagkatao at kakayahan na pamunuan ang ating bansa," Villar said.

"Batid ko na ang paninira ay bahagi ng pulitika at nagtitiwala ako sa kakayahan ng taong-bayan na ihiwalay ang totoo sa hindi. May naninira man, hindi ito magiging dahilan para panghinaan tayo ng loob na ipagpatuloy ang mga gawaing nakakatulong sa mga mamamayan," he added.

NP senatorial bet Gilbert Remulla said the survey was conducted when Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile presented the committee report censuring Villar over the C-5 project.

"Ngayon alam na natin na kaya pala nila binabanatan muli si Sen Villar sa C-5 isyu ay dahil panahon ng field work ng SWS. Talagang maruming maglaro ang mga kalaban ni Sen Villar sa pulitika," Remulla said.

"Pero kailangan nilang mag-isip ng bagong ipapanira kay Sen Villar dahil hindi kinakagat ng mga tao ang bintang na C-5 road kaya siguro nandiyan naman ang mga alegasyon ng panunuhol daw at mga pang-iinsulto pa nila kay Sen Villar," he added.

It can be recalled that Enrile accused Villar of bribing him to drop the C-5 road case. Enrile is a candidate for senator in the May elections and an ally of former Pres. Estrada of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino.

Villar said he refused to face his rivals in the Senate and submit to their political tactics. He said the committee report failed to include the testimony of the witnesses who stated under oath that there was no irregularity in the construction of the road project.

"Walang maidudulot na mabuti ang pagharap ko dahil sa simula pa lang ay guilty na ako sa kanila. Kung ang mga witness nila na ipinatawag di nila pinakinggan, ako pa kaya na gusto lang nilang ibagsak. Hindi ako papayag na gamitin nila at babuyin ang institusyon ng Senado," Villar said.

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