Palace survey shows opposition bets leading Senate race

Opposition senatorial candidates appear to be leading even in their rivals’ turf – Malacañang.

An internal Palace survey validated other pre-election surveys that showed pro-administration Team Unity candidates taking a heavy beating from Genuine Opposition and independent candidates.

Speaking from Cebu, President Arroyo appeared unfazed. "I repeat, we are focusing on the national agenda that includes more jobs, stable prices and peace and order. We are leaving the politicking to candidates," she told a gathering of diplomats, Cabinet and local officials, members of academe and representatives of the international financial and donor community, including the World Bank.

She was in Cebu for the closing yesterday of the 2007 Philippine Development Forum.

A ranking administration official who declined to be named disclosed that the Palace commissioned a US-based polling outfit to determine the chances of Team Unity senatorial candidates.

The survey, conducted almost simultaneously with the one held by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) last Feb. 24 to 27, showed that six opposition candidates, two independents and four administration senatorial aspirants landed in the so-called "magic 12."

The SWS survey indicated a "7-3-2" lineup or seven candidates from the opposition, three from the administration and two independents.

Former senator Loren Legarda topped the Palace survey followed by re-electionist Sen. Manuel Villar. Independent candidates Sen. Francisco Pangilinan and former senator Gregorio Honasan also made it to the top 12 slots.

Team Unity bets who made it to the top 12 were former senator Vicente Sotto, re-electionist Senators Edgardo Angara, Ralph Recto and Joker Arroyo.

The survey polled 1,500 respondents nationwide or 300 more than the respondents in the SWS survey, the administration official said.

"We’re not saying we do not believe the SWS survey but in the end it will be the delivery of the votes through the activation of the nationwide, top-to-bottom local machineries that will determine the results of the elections," Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio said.

"It is too early in the game to make any firm conclusions out of that survey," Claudio said.

He said Mrs. Arroyo may campaign harder for Team Unity candidates but the administration believes the tide will eventually turn in its favor in the coming weeks.

"There are times, occasions, places, and audiences where the President does makes endorsements directly or indirectly," Claudio said.

He noted that Mrs. Arroyo’s "strength" is in dealing with local officials.

Claudio said he expects the survey results to change once the campaign for the local level starts on March 31.

"What is important to us is the beginning of the local (campaign). This is when the machinery will be activated," he said.

By machinery, Claudio said he meant the candidates of the administration for the elective local positions from governor to councilors would campaign for candidates in the national level.

"We do expect local candidates belonging to the administration acting not only to campaign for themselves but as campaign managers for Team Unity," Claudio said.

Malacañang claims it has the support of over 90 percent of local government officials across the country.

The administration has not yet completed its entire slate for the local level as some areas are still undergoing arbitration because many candidates are vying for the same posts.

For instance, some governors in the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) have threatened to withdraw their support for Recto if his wife Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos decides to challenge Batangas incumbent Gov. Armand Sanchez.

With just three Team Unity members in the survey’s top 12, the administration cannot afford to lose another slot to the opposition.

In the latest survey, Recto dropped one place from fifth to sixth while Sotto went from fourth to eighth.