PNS — NACIONALISTA Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar, Jr. said more officials are now choosing who to support for president as the May 10 automated polls draw near.
Villar’s statement came following reports that some Lakas-Kampi CMD officials, including Speaker Prospero Nograles, are defecting to NP.
But NP spokesman and senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla said they have yet to confirm Nograles’ decision.
“We have not received any official word on this. We have only received text messages,” Remulla said.
“But if you think about it, in Davao wala na silang pupuntahan. Mayor (Rodrigo) Duterte has declared openly his support for Liberal Party front-runner Sen. Benigno Noynoy Aquino. Where will Boy Nograles go?” he said.
“Naghahanap sila ng puwedeng puntahan at siguro naniniwala na si Speaker Nograles that the NP may be a viable option. We’re not so sure,” Remulla added.
Meanwhile, Villar said the latest Social Weather Stations survey showing him trailing Aquino by merely 8 percentage points boost their hope that he will soon tie or surpass his closest rival.
“Scores in surveys could easily change because of certain factors that determine the choice of people of their candidate for president in the coming days,” Villar said.
The SWS survey conducted from March 28 to 30 among 21,000 respondents showed Villar garnering 29 percent while Aquino had 37 percent.
Liberal Party presidential bet Sen. Noynoy Aquino meanwhile said Nograles’ looming transfer to NP is a sign that Villar is indeed the “secret” candidate of President Macapagal-Arroyo.
“If he is not castigated publicly for doing that, it is tantamount of saying that going for Gibo or going for Villar is OK with the Palace,” Aquino said.