MANILA, Philippines?Though he remains a poor fourth in the surveys, administration standard-bearer Gilbert ?Gibo? Teodoro should not be counted out of the presidential race, Malacañang said Tuesday.
?There?s no reason for anyone to throw in the towel,? Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesperson, told reporters. ?People, when they start campaigning, they should be serious about it.?
In the latest Social Weather Stations survey, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate remained stuck at 6 percent, way behind his rivals Benigno Aquino III, Manuel Villar Jr. and deposed President Joseph Estrada.
The firm polled 2,100 registered voters from March 19 to 22.
Olivar advised the public to wait for the results of the next survey, which he said would cover the March 26 kick-off of the local campaign and factor in the political machinery of the administration coalition.
?We have the word of administration party spokespersons and leaders that we will start to see the effects of their grassroots strength after the local campaign started on March 26,? he said.
Party secretary general Francis Manglapus said the surveys would not reflect the true sentiments of voters until 10 days before the end of the campaign period, when the electorate had made a firm choice.
?This thing is far from over,? he said by phone.
Manglapus, who said he doubted the ?science? behind surveys, agreed that the surveys had failed to take into account such factors as ?command vote? and ?regional strength.?
?We just started to send out our message last Friday,? he said, referring to the start of the local campaign. ?We?re just starting to crank the machinery.?
The administration party has been claiming that it enjoys the support of more than 60 percent of local officials.
Manglapus, however, conceded that the delayed move to air advertisements on television and radio contributed to Teodoro?s poor ratings. He disclosed that the party would step up the airing of these ads and the road shows.
?The election is 40 days away, and the local campaign has just started. Now the real movement and growth of our campaign by leaps and bounds will be seen,? he said.
