BY DENNIS GADIL
THE Genuine Opposition (GO) and even its
symbolic leader, President Joseph Estrada, yesterday expressed
confidence the administration could not overtake the GO slate’s
lead shown in a February survey of Pulse Asia in Manila.
The survey was conducted in the six districts
of Manila from February 10 to 12.
"As Manila goes, so does the nation," Estrada
said in a statement distributed at the GO headquarters in
Mandaluyong City.
The survey showed Loren Legarda on top with
63 percent of voters’ preference, followed by Panfilo Lacson
with 56 percent and Francis Escudero with 51 percent.
At fourth slot was Alan Peter Cayetano (51
percent) followed by Francis Pangilinan (43 percent), Benigno "Noynoy"
Aquino (41 percent) and Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan with 38
percent.
Pangilinan was dropped from the GO slate on
Wednesday.
Honasan, while an independent candidate, is
allied with the opposition.
In the 8th to 10th slots were Ralph Recto,
who is running under the administration’s Team Unity, with 36
percent; Vicente Sotto III (Team Unity, 34 percent); and Manuel
Villar (GO) with 33 percent.
The last two slots were occupied by Sen.
Joker Arroyo (Team Unity) with 31 percent and lawyer Aquilino "Koko"
Pimentel III (GO), 29 percent.
In the 13th to 17th places were Edgardo
Angara (Team Unity), John Osmeña (GO), Antonio Trillanes IV
(GO), Mike Defensor (Team Unity) and Sonia Roco (GO).
Estrada said what Manila feels reflect the
sentiment of the entire country.
Estrada said the entire Metro Manila will go
with the opposition "as shown in the elections of 2004 when the
opposition standard bearer, Mr. Fernando Poe Jr., captured
majority of the votes there, despite the massive cheating
operations instigated by the opposing camp."
He recalled that Poe and his slate won in all
cities of Metro Manila, with the exception of Las Piñas.
GO spokesman Adel Tamano said the Pulse Asia
Manila survey proves that the opposition is far ahead in Manila.
"Obvious na lamang ang oposisyon. Metro
Manila is very important, it has a large voting population,"
Tamano said.
He added: "If they plan to cheat, mahihirapan
silang mandaya sa Manila."
Estrada said he was not worried about the
weak showing of the other GO candidates "since they were
latecomers."
He said he expects their rankings to rise as
the campaign peaks.
Estrada said he was not worried about Osmeña,
who landed 14th, "since John already has a lock on the Visayan
vote."
Tamano said the showing of Trillanes was
surprising as he could not campaign physically.
Trillanes, a leader of the Magdalo group that
staged the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003, is detained in the Navy
headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.
Tamano said Trillanes even nosed out Defensor
who has huge media exposure.
"Good media exposure does not necessarily
translate to good rating. It means Mike is not converting his
big media exposure. He has no conversion," Tamano said.
"This should be alarming to Team GMA," he added.
